BACKGROUNDAfter injury, axonal regeneration of the adult central nervous system (CNS) is inhibited by myelin-derived growth-suppressing proteins. These axonal growth inhibitory proteins are mediated via activation of Rho, a small GTP-binding protein. The activated form of Rho, which is bound to GTP, is the direct activator of Rho kinase (ROCK) through serial downstream effector proteins to inhibit axonal regeneration. The objective of this study was to observe the therapeutic effect of inactivation of the Rho-ROCK signaling pathway to promote neurologic recovery after spinal cord injuries in rats.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Laminectomies alone were conducted in 40 rats in the sham group. Laminectomies and spinal cord transections were performed in 40 rats in the control group (treated with normal saline administered intraperitoneally). Laminectomies and spinal cord transections were performed in 40 rats in the fasudil-treated group (treated with fasudil administered intraperitoneally). Neurologic recovery was evaluated before surgery and 3 days, and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after surgery using the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale of hind limb movement. At the same time, the expression of RhoA mRNA was determined with RT-PCR. Histopathologic examinations and immunofluorescence staining of NF were performed 1 month after surgery.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the BBB scores of the fasudil-treated group were significantly increased and the expression of RhoA mRNA was significantly decreased. In the fasudil-treated group, a large number of NF-positive regenerating fibers was observed; some fibers crossed the slit of the lesion.

CONCLUSIONInactivation of the Rho-ROCK signaling pathway promotes CNS axonal regeneration and neurologic recovery after spinal cord injuries in rats.