Effects of melatonin on the expression of HO-1 factor after acute spinal cord injury

Xu Yusheng; Li Yang; Wang Xin; Zhu Haiyang; Zhong Bin; Li Penghui; Su Yifan

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-437X.2017.09.004

Abstract：Objective To study the effects of melatonin (MT) on the expression of heme oxygenase (HO-1) after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats, and explore the effects of MT on spinal cord injury.Methods A total of 108 adult SD rats were selected and randomly divided into three groups: control group, injury group and MT group.Lamina was removed in control group.Consequencely, T11-T12 segment was exposed without spinal nerves damage.The T11-T12 acute SCI models in injury group and MT group were established by use of the modified Allen's method.At 10 min after SCI, MT and MT preparations were intraperitoneally injected in injury group and MT group, respectively.In every groups, 12 rats were randomly sacrificed at 6 h, 12 h and 24 h after operation, then T11-T12 spinal cord specimens were collected.The 6 specimens were stored in liquid nitrogen for dectecting the expression level of HO-1 mRNA, while the other 6 specimens were fixed with formalin for HE staining and immunofluorescence sections to observe the spinal cord injury and repair.Results At 6 h, 12 h and 24 h, the levels of HO-1 mRNA in MT group were highest, those of which in control group were lowest.Significant differences (P<0.05) in HO-1 mRNA level at 12 h and 24 h were found among control group, injury group and MT group.In terms of SCI degree, control group was lightest, followed by MT control and injury group.In addition, immunofluorescence showed that HO-1 expression in MT group was the most, that of which in control group was the least.Conclusion MT could promote the expression of HO-1 after acute SCI in rats, and reduce the inflammatory response of injured spinal cord.