Gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in injured spinal cord tissue
- Author:
Chenglong LIU
1
;
Anmin JIN
;
Chusong ZHOU
;
Bin CHEN
Author Information
1. Zhujiang Hospital the First Military Medical University
- Keywords:
Spinal cord injuries;
Gene expression;
Nitric oxide inducible nitric oxide synthase
- From:
Chinese Journal of Traumatology
2001;4(4):231-233
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To investigate gene expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in injured spinal cord tissue of rats.Methods: Thirty-six adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into six groups: a normal group and five injury groups, six animals in each group. Animals in the injury groups were killed at 2, 6, 12, 24, 48 hours after injury, respectively. A compression injury model of spinal cord was established according to Nystrom B et al, and gene expression of iNOS in spinal cord tissue was examined by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).Results: Gene expression of iNOS was not detectable in normal spinal cord tissue but was seen in the injury groups. The expression was gradually up-regulated, reaching the maximum at 24 hours. The expression at 48hours began to decrease but was still significantly higher than that at 2 hours.Conclusions: iNOS is not involved in the normal physiological activities of spinal cord. Expression of iNOS is up-regulated in spinal cord tissue in response to injury and the up-regulation exists mainly in the late stage after injury. Over-expression of iNOS may contribute to the late injury of spinal cord.
