Objective To explore the effects of Ganoderma spore(germination activated Ganoderma spore) on survival and expression of neurotrophin_3(NT_3) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) of injured motor neurons in rat spinal cord. Methods Different dosages of Gandoerma spore were irrigated into the rat's stomach respectively in experimental groups after oneside ventral root cut.The survival ratio of injured motor neurons was counted.NT_3 expression of surviving motor neurons was measured by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods and NOS activity was measured by enzymo_histochemistry method. Results Thirty_five days after ventral root cut,the survival ratio of motor neurons was 47.32% in control group,and those were 67.11%,72.67% and 81.67% respectively in low,medial and high dosage Ganoderma spore groups.Expressions of NT_3 and NOS of surviving motor neurons in high dosage Ganoderma spore group were higher than those in control group.Conclusion Ganoderma spore may promote the survival of injured spinal motor neurons,and survival ratio of injured motor neurons is related to the dosages of Ganoderma spore.Ganoderma spore may also enhance the expressions of NT_3 and NOS of surviving spinal motor neurons.

Objective Whether combination of ganoderma spore and L-NNA(NOS inhibitor) could promote the neuronal survival and axonal regeneration in Clarke's nucleus(CN) and red nucleus(RN) following spinal cord hemisection was explored. Methods Thirty adult female rats were divided into control group,L-NNA group,low dosage of ganoderma spore group,low dosage of ganoderma spore+L-NNA group,high dosage of ganoderma spore group and high dosage of ganoderma spore+L-NNA group.L-NNA was intraperitoneally injected and high dosage of ganoderma spore was irrigated into the rat's stomach after hemisection of T11 spinal cord segment in high dosage of ganoderma spore+L-NNA group. Results Thirty days after spinal cord hemisection,the number of CN neurons was decreased and some neurons were expressing NOS on lesioned side of L1 spinal cord in control group.The number of CN neurons on lesioned side of L1 spinal cord was increased in L-NNA group and low dosage of ganoderma spore group,but the number of NOS-positive neurons was decreased.In low dosage of ganoderma spore+L-NNA group and high dosage of ganoderma spore group,the number of CN neurons was significantly increased and NOS-positive neurons were also significantly decreased on lesioned side of L1 spinal cord.In high dosage of ganoderma spore+L-NNA group,there were most CN neurons surviving and least NOS-positive CN neurons,and some neurons were labeled by flourogold on lesioned side of LI spinal cord.The density of RN neurons on lesioned side was decreased in control group and L-NNA group.The density of RN neurons on lesioned side was increased in low dosage of ganoderma spore group and low dosage of ganoderma spore+L-NNA group.The density of RN neurons on lesioned side was significantly increased in high dosage of ganoderma spore group and high dosage of ganoderma spore+L-NNA group.Conclusion Ganoderma spore or L-NNA can promote the survival of injuried CN neurons after spinal cord hemisection.Combination of ganoderma spore and L-NNA can better promote injuried CN neuronal survival and axonal regeneration.Ganoderma spore can also enhance injuried RN neuronal survival.