title: Neuroprotective effects and impact on caspase-12 expression of tauroursodeoxycholic acid after acute spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effects of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) on nerve function after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, observe its effect on neuronal apoptosis and caspase-12 expression levels, and investigate the underlying mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a modified Allen's weight-drop trauma method to establish a rat acute SCI model. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: group A (sham surgery group), group B (DMSO control group) and group C (TUDCA treatment group), with 36 rats in each group. At one minute and at 24 hours after successfully establishing the model, rats in group C received an intraperitoneal injection of TUDCA (200 mg/kg), while rats in group B received an equal amount of DMSO at the same time points. At 24 hours, three days, and five days after injury, a modified Tarlov scoring method and Rivlin's oblique plate test were used to evaluate rat spinal cord nerve function recovery. Animals were sacrificed at 24 hours, three days, and five days after injury. Specimens were obtained from the center of the injury sites; the pathological changes in spinal cord tissue were observed after hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining; apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL method, and the expression of caspase-12 was measured at the protein level using immunohistochemistry and Western blots.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group C differed significantly from group B in Tarlov scores and the oblique table test as early as 24 hours after the injury (P < 0.05). The TUNEL assay test results showed that neurons underwent apoptosis after SCI, which peaked at 24 hours. The ratios of apoptotic cells in group C were significantly lower than those in group B at 24 hours, three days, and five days after injury (P < 0.01). The immunohistochemistry and Western blot results showed that the caspase-12 expression levels of group C were lower than those of group B at 24 hours, three days, and five days after injury (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TUDCA can inhibit the expression of caspase-12 in rat neurons after SCI, reduce cell apoptosis, and exert neuroprotective effects on rat secondary nerve injuries after SCI.
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hei
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Leilei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Spinal Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University Yinchuan 750004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Huiqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D053454:Caspase 12 / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013655:Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid; C031655:ursodoxicoltaurine; C506443:Casp12 protein, rat; D053454:Caspase 12
keywords: Spinal cord injury; apoptosis; caspase-12; neuroprotection; tauroursodeoxycholic acid