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[Effect of neurotoxin on spinal cord injury in rats]
Objective:
To elucidate the effect of neurotoxin, excitatory amino acid and neuropeptide on spinal cord injury post trauma.
Methods:
We detected the changes of concentration of EAA, glutamate(Glu) and aspartate(Asp) at injured segment tissue after spinal cord injury. Changes in dynorphin DynA1-13, an endogenous opioid, immnoreactivity following traumatic spinal cord injury in the rat were examined. We observed the effects of Glu and dynorphin DynA1-13 administered intrathecally on function of spinal cord in rats and the effects of 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), an antagonist of EAA receptor, and antisera against dynorphin administered intrathecally on secondary spinal cord injury.
Results:
The concentrations of EAA and dynorphin DynA1-13 increased progressively along with the severity of injury, and were related to injury time. Glu exacerbated the extent of spinal cord injury. Dynorphin DynA1-13 administered intrathecally caused dose-related hindlimb paraplysis in rats, whereas CPP and antisera against dynorphin DynA1-13 were found to have protective effect on spinal cord injury.
Conclusion:
These findings further support the potential pathophysiological role of EAA and dynorphin DynA1-13 as neurotoxin in spinal cord injury.