title: Effect of FGF-2 and sciatic nerve grafting on ChAT expression in dorsal root ganglia neurons of spinal cord transected rats.
abstract: Neurotrophic factors and peripheral nerves are known to be good substrates for bridging CNS trauma. The involvement of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) activation in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was examined following spinal cord injury in the rat. We evaluated whether FGF-2 increases the ability of a sciatic nerve graft to enhance neuronal plasticity, in a gap promoted by complete transection of the spinal cord. The rats were subjected to a 4mm-long gap at low thoracic level and were repaired with saline (Saline or control group, n=10), or fragment of the sciatic nerve (Nerve group, n=10), or fragment of the sciatic nerve to which FGF-2 (Nerve+FGF-2 group, n=10) had been added immediately after lesion. The effects of the FGF-2 and fragment of the sciatic nerve grafts on neuronal plasticity were investigated using choline acetyl transferase (ChAT)-immunoreactivity of neurons in the dorsal root ganglion after 8 weeks. Preservation of the area and diameter of neuronal cell bodies in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was seen in animals treated with the sciatic nerve, an effect enhanced by the addition of FGF-2. Thus, the addition of exogenous FGF-2 to a sciatic nerve fragment grafted in a gap of the rat spinal cord submitted to complete transection was able to improve neuroprotection in the DRG. The results emphasized that the manipulation of the microenvironment in the wound might amplify the regenerative capacity of peripheral neurons.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Health Science Center, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: faustoguzen@uern.br.
authors: Fausto Pierdoná
authors: FP
authors: Guzen
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Health Science Center, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors: Dayane Pessoa
authors: DP
authors: de Araújo
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Health Science Center, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors: Eudes Euler de Souza
authors: EE
authors: Lucena
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Health Science Center, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors: Hécio Henrique Araújo
authors: HH
authors: de Morais
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Health Science Center, State University of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil.
authors: José Rodolfo Lopes de Paiva
authors: JR
authors: Cavalcanti
authors: Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors: Expedito Silva
authors: ES
authors: do Nascimento
authors: Laboratory of Neuroanatomy, Department of Morphology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors: Miriam Stela Maris de Oliveira
authors: MS
authors: Costa
authors: Laboratory of Neurochemical Studies, Department of Physiology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
authors: Jeferson Sousa
authors: JS
authors: Cavalcante
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D066146:Cell Body / Q000473:pathology; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012584:Sciatic Nerve / Q000637:transplantation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase
keywords: Dorsal root ganglia; Fibroblastic growth factor-2; Neuroprotection; Sciatic nerve graft; Spinal cord