Background and aims: This study is concerned with the expressions of growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) mRNA and protein in the anterior horn of the spinal cord after brachial plexus injury.
Methods: Animals were killed 1, 7, 14 days after injury and were divided into three injury groups: group 1, right C(7) ventral motor root avulsion; group 2, right C(7) ventral motor root avulsion and cut right C(5)-T(1) dorsal sensitive roots; and group 3, right C(7) ventral motor root avulsion plus right hemisection between C(5) and C(6) segment of the spinal cord. The combined behavioral scores (CBS) 1, 7 and 14 days after surgery were used in behavioral testing. Expressions of both GAP-43 mRNA and protein were analyzed using QRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry 14 days after surgery.
Results: Among the injury groups, rats in group 3 had the highest score and those in group 1, the lowest score. On day 14 after surgery, the expressions of GAP-43 mRNA and protein were evidently up-regulated compared to the control group, with the highest in group 3 and the lowest in group 1, showing significant differences among the three injury groups (p <0.01).
Conclusions: Our study suggests that the expressions of GAP-43 mRNA and protein may be upregulated after brachial plexus injury, and GAP-43 protein is possibly associated with the axon regeneration and function reconstruction.
Copyright © 2010 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.