OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of mecobalamin on the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, Bax and Bcl-2, in neurons after peripheral nerve injury, and to explore the role of neuron apoptosis in peripheral nerve regeneration after injury.

METHODSThirty healthy adult male wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, and mecobalamin group, with 10 rats in each group. A rat model of left sciatic nerve semi-injury was established using forceps. Rats in the mecobalamin group were fed mecobalamin, while rats in the sham-operation group and model group were given the same dose of normal saline. The protein expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in neurons was measured at 14 days after operation. A semi-quantitative analysis of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins was performed by image analysis technology.

RESULTSThe model group had significantly increased Bax protein expression and significantly reduced Bcl-2 protein expression in spinal cord anterior horn motor neurons and ganglion sensory neurons compared with the sham-operation group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group and sham-operation group, the mecobalamin group had significantly reduced Bax protein expression and significantly increased Bcl-2 protein expression in spinal cord anterior horn motor neurons and ganglion sensory neurons (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONMecobalamin has anti-apoptotic effect, and it contributes to neurological function recovery possibly by inhibiting the death of injured neurons.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Male ; Neurons ; cytology ; drug effects ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sciatic Nerve ; pathology ; Spinal Cord ; cytology ; Vitamin B 12 ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism