Objective: To determine the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) mRNA in transactional injured spinal cords and the role of CNTF in repairing and regenerating spinal cords in adult rats.
Methods: Forty clean adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham group and operation group (SCI group). The SCI group was subdivided into four groups, with the rats sacrificed 1, 3, 7 and 14 days after the operations (day of postoperation, DPO), respectively. The spinal cords of the rats were completely transected at T10. The rats in the sham group underwent the same procedures as those in the SCI groups except for the transection. The Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan locomotor testing scales (BBB scores) was used to evaluate the locomotor function of hindlimbs of the rats. The expression of CNTF mRNA in the spinal cords were detected with RT-PCR technique.
Results: The BBB scores increased gradually with the time after the spinal cord injury. But the hindlimb locomotor function did not improve significantly. The CNTF mRNA in the distal stumps of injured spinal cords increased significantly on DPO 1 and 3 compared with those in the sham group (P<0.05), and then decreased from DPO 7 and returned to normal level on DPO 14.
Conclusion: Increased ciliary neurotrophic factor expression at the early stage after SCI may be associated with the repair and regeneration of the nerves in the rats.