Function of Microglia Cell in Spinal Cord Injury of Rabbit under Decompression Sickness

Wang Cuicui; Liu Xiaohong; Cao Yongcheng; Bi Liquan; Geng Ming

Abstract：Objective To investigate the role of microglia in spinal cord injury under decompression sickness (DCS) of rabbits.Methods Total of 21 healthy adult male Newzland rabbits were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal control group,DCS group and safety relief group.DCS model were made by fast decompression method,the pressure was increased to 0.8 MPa (absolute pressure) within 5 min and maintained for 60 min,then was decompressed to normal pressure within 5 min.Safety relief group was decompressed according to Navy diving decompression.With the light microscope and immunohistochemical(IHC) method to observe the changes of pathology,morphology and the expression of anti-ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (IBA1) protein of microglia cell in spinal cord of rabbits.Results There were some cavity formations on white matter of spinal cord in DCS group.IBA1 positive cells obviously increased,with cell body obviously hypertrophy and turning round,processes shorter and less branches,brown yellow and rough particle shaped matter in the cell,which were significantly higher in DCS than those in normal control group and safety relief group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The microglia cell may play a key role in pathophysiology of spinal cord injury.They are activated in the early stage of DCS and participate in the process of spinal cord injury.