Effects of Nerve Growth Factor on NMDA Receptor 1 and Neuronal Nitric Oxide Production after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
Abstract：Objective:To explore the protective mechanisms of nerve growth factor ( NGF)on spinal cord injury (SCI) and provide theoretical basis for its clinical application. Methods: The SCI of Wistar rats was done by Allen's weight dropping way by a 10 g × 2.5 cm impact on the posteri-or of spinal cord T8. NGF (3 g/L, 20 μl) or normal saline was injected through catheter into sub-arachnoid space 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h after SCI. The expression of N-methyl- D-asparate receptor1 (NMDAR 1 ) and neuronal constitutive nitric oxide synthase (ncNOS) mRNA in rat spinal cord was detected by in situ hybridization. Results: Abnormal expression of NMDAR 1 and ncNOS mRNA appeared in spinal ventral horn motorneuron in injured rats, as compared with that in control group. The expression of NMDAR 1 and ncNOS mRNA in NGF group was significantly lower than that in saline group (P＜0.01). Conclusion: NGF can protect spinal cord against injury in vivo. One of the mechanisms is that NGF can prohibit NMDAR 1 and nitric oxide (NO) production after spinal cord injury.
Keywords：nerve growth factorspinal cord injuryN-methyl-D-asparate recep-tor 1nitric oxide
Publication Date：2003-07-02
Online Publishing Date：2025-08-15(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：4( 187-190 )