Improvement in sensory function via granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in rat spinal cord injury models

The aim in this study was to determine whether granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) leads to sensory improvement in rat spinal cord injury (SCI) models.

Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in this study: 10 in the sham group (laminectomy alone without SCI), 10 in the SCI group (SCI treated with phosphate-buffered saline), and 10 in the GM-CSF treatment group (SCI treated with GM-CSF). A locomotor function test and pain sensitivity test were conducted weekly for 9 weeks after SCI or sham injury. Spinal tissue samples from all rats were immunohistochemically examined for the expression of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and abnormal sprouting at Week 9 post-SCI.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor treatment improves functional recovery after SCI. In the tactile withdrawal threshold and frequency of the hindlimb paw, the GM-CSF group always responded with a statistically significant lower threshold than the SCI group 9 weeks after SCI (p < 0.05). The response of the forelimb and hindlimb paws to cold in the GM-CSF group always reflected a statistically significant lower threshold than in the SCI group 9 weeks after injury (p < 0.05). Decreased CGRP expression, observed by density and distribution area, was noted in the GM-CSF group (optical density 113.5 ± 20.4) compared with the SCI group (optical density 143.1 ± 18.7; p < 0.05).

Treatment with GM-CSF results in functional recovery, improving tactile and cold sense recovery in a rat SCI model. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor also minimizes abnormal sprouting of sensory nerves after SCI.