Expressions of heme oxygenase-1 in the traumatized rat spinal cord / 中华创伤杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the expression changes of heme oxygenase-1(HO-1) and its mRNA after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal (n=5), control (n=5) and experimental group (n=10). The rats were given no operation in the normal group, laminectomy only in the control and both laminectomy and traumatic injury in the experimental group. The SCI animal models were made by using a modified Allen's weight-drop device (50 g.cm) on T 12 . Rats were sacrificed at 1 and 3 days after injury. The distribution and content changes of HO-1 and its mRNA in spinal cord segments were observed by means of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. Results Expression of HO-1 was mainly in neurons in the normal spinal cord. After injury, HO-1 expressed primarily in astrocytes and microglia and the distribution of positive cells closely correlated with intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Protein began to increase at the first day after injury. The expression intensity and the area of positive cells were (148.26?11.39) and (90.50?8.70)?10 3 ?m 2 respectively. At the third day, protein expressed more significantly with expression intensity of (128.03? 12.59) and area of (112.99?10.01)?10 3 ?m 2. The expression intensity and area of positive cells expressed by mRNA were (106.02?9.10) and (70.05?9.26)?10 3 ?m 2 respectively at the first day after injury, (85.82?9.07) and (87.37?10.95)?10 3 ?m 2 respectively at the third day after injury. There was significant difference between experimental and control groups ( P