Changes of intracellular calcium and the correlation with functional damage of the spinal cord after spinal cord injury / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe dynamic changes of intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) after spinal cord injury, and to study the relationship between the changes of [Ca(2+)]i and the functional damage of the spinal cord.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The rats were subjected to a spinal cord contusion by using a modified Allen's method. The [Ca(2+)]i in the injured segment of the spinal cord was measured by the technique of La(3+) blockage and atomic absorption spectroscopy at 1, 4, 8, 24, 72, and 168 hours after injury. The motor function on the inclined plane was measured at the same time.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The spinal cord [Ca(2+)]i increased significantly (P<0.05 or P<0.01) aft er spinal cord injury. There was a significant correlation (P<0.05) between the changes of [Ca(2+)]i and the motor function.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>[Ca(2+)]i overload may play an important role in the pathogenesis of spinal cord injury.</p>