N Wang1, S Zhang2, A F Zhang3, Z Y Yang1, X G Li1. 1. Department of Neurobiology and Beijing Institute for Neuroscience, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 2. China National Center of Biomedical Analysis, Beijing, China. 3. Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Currently, effective therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI) is not clinically available. To establish a better method that may help repair the injured spinal cord, sodium hyaluronate-ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) gelatinous particles were generated. METHODS: A segment of spinal cord tissue was excised to form a 2.5-mm-long cavity at thoracic level in an adult rat, and sodium hyaluronate-CNTF gelatinous particles were implanted into the lesion cavity. The recovery of the injured spinal cord was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, nerve tracing, electrophysiological test and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale. RESULTS: Open-field locomotion of the sodium hyaluronate-CNTF rats was significantly enhanced up to 12 weeks postoperation. Together with the evidence of enhanced cortical motor evoked potentials and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials in the sodium hyaluronate-CNTF group, these findings suggested a powerful functional recovery component. Immunohistochemical analyses suggested that the functional recovery might be attributable partly to an increase in axonal regrowth as well as in replenishment of β-tubulin-III-positive neuron-like cells. CONCLUSION: Sodium hyaluronate-CNTF gelatinous particles may provide an effective method for treating SCI.
OBJECTIVES: Currently, effective therapeutic strategy for spinal cord injury (SCI) is not clinically available. To establish a better method that may help repair the injured spinal cord, sodium hyaluronate-ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) gelatinous particles were generated. METHODS: A segment of spinal cord tissue was excised to form a 2.5-mm-long cavity at thoracic level in an adult rat, and sodium hyaluronate-CNTF gelatinous particles were implanted into the lesion cavity. The recovery of the injured spinal cord was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, nerve tracing, electrophysiological test and Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale. RESULTS: Open-field locomotion of the sodium hyaluronate-CNTFrats was significantly enhanced up to 12 weeks postoperation. Together with the evidence of enhanced cortical motor evoked potentials and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials in the sodium hyaluronate-CNTF group, these findings suggested a powerful functional recovery component. Immunohistochemical analyses suggested that the functional recovery might be attributable partly to an increase in axonal regrowth as well as in replenishment of β-tubulin-III-positive neuron-like cells. CONCLUSION:Sodium hyaluronate-CNTF gelatinous particles may provide an effective method for treating SCI.