Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharide on Motor Function and Pathology after Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

ZHENG Li-qiang; WU Ya-min; SHI Yong-jiang; JIANG Qiong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2016.11.006

Abstract：Objective To observe the effect of astragalus polysaccharide on motor function and pathology after spinal cord injury in rats. Methods Seventy adult Sprague-Dawley rats were selected as normal group (n=10), injury group (n=30) and treatment group (n=30), and the injury group and the treatment group were divided into 7 days, 14 days, 28 days subgroups. The injury group and the treatment group were modeled with Allen's mode at T10 (10 g×25 mm). The treatment group was injected with astragalus polysaccharide 10 mg/kg per day af-ter injury. They were rated with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scores 7 days, 14 days and 28 days after injury, while the morphology was observed with HE staining, Nylon body was observed with Nissl staining, and myelin sheath was observed with eriochrome cyanine stain-ing. Results The BBB score was significantly higher in the treatment group than in the injury group at each time point (P<0.05). There was a large number of necrotic tissue in the injured cords and cystic cavity began to form 7 and 14 days after injury. Cystic cavity formed basical-ly and surrounded with dense scar 28 days after injury. The necrosis and cystic cavity alleviated in the treatment group at each time point. Demyelination and myelin sheaths loose were found 7 days after injury, and aggravated with the time. There was a cystic cavity in trauma center 28 days after injury. The demyelination and myelin sheaths loose relieved at each time point in the treatment group. Nissl bodies be-gan to coalesce 7 days after injury, and aggravated 14 days after injury, coalesced completely 28 days after injury. Nissl body coalesced alle-viatively in the treatment group at each time point. Conclusion Astragalus polysaccharide may reduce the damage and promote the recovery of motor function after spinal cord injury in rats.