Objective The present study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological properties of wide dynamic range （WDR） neurons in spinal dorsal horn of rats with neuropathic pain induced by lumber 5 （L5） spinal nerve li...Objective The present study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological properties of wide dynamic range （WDR） neurons in spinal dorsal horn of rats with neuropathic pain induced by lumber 5 （L5） spinal nerve ligation （SNL） in a large size of samples.Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal and SNL groups.Electrophysiological technique was used to record the characteristics of WDR neurons in the spinal dorsal horn.Results Compared with the WDR neurons in normal rats,the WDR neurons in SNL rats showed an increase in excitability,manifested by an enlargement of the receptive field size,an increase in the proportion of neurons that exhibited spontaneous activities,decreases in the Cresponse threshold and latency,and an increase in the C-response duration.In addition,the numbers of A-and C-fiberevoked discharges were smaller in SNL rats than in normal rats.Conclusion The excitability of spinal WDR neurons increased in rats with neuropathic pain induced by L5 SNL.The increase in excitability of WDR neurons may contribute to the development of neuropathic pain.展开更多
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor has anti-apoptotic,anti-inflammatory,and neuroprotective effects.It is now recognized that the occurrence and development of chronic pain are strongly associated with anti-inflammatory...Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor has anti-apoptotic,anti-inflammatory,and neuroprotective effects.It is now recognized that the occurrence and development of chronic pain are strongly associated with anti-inflammatory responses;however,it is not clear whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor regulates chronic pain via anti-inflammatory mechanisms.We explored the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor on nociception,cognition,and neuroinflammation in chronic pain.A rat model of chronic pain was established using left L5 spinal nerve ligation.The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 was intrathecally injected into rats from 10 to 21 days after spinal nerve ligation.Electrophysiological examinations showed that,after treatment with exendin-4,paw withdrawal frequency of the left limb was significantly reduced,and pain was relieved.In addition,in the Morris water maze test,escape latency increased and the time to reach the platform decreased following exendin-4 treatment.Immunohistochemical staining and western blot assays revealed an increase in the numbers of activated microglia and astrocytes in the dentate gyrus of rat hippocampus,as well as an increase in the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha,interleukin 1 beta,and interleukin 6.All of these effects could be reversed by exendin-4 treatment.These findings suggest that exendin-4 can alleviate pain-induced neuroinflammatory responses and promote the recovery of cognitive function via the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor pathway.All experimental procedures and protocols were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University of China(approval No.WDRM 20171214)on September 22,2017.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Injection of glutamate （Glu） in normal animals can cause neuronal c-Fos expression; however, whether Glu can induce spinal neuronal c-Fos expression in pain models is unclear. OBJECTIVE： To examine the...BACKGROUND： Injection of glutamate （Glu） in normal animals can cause neuronal c-Fos expression; however, whether Glu can induce spinal neuronal c-Fos expression in pain models is unclear. OBJECTIVE： To examine the effects of intraplantar and intrathecal injection of Glu on c-Fos expression in the L5 spinal cord dorsal horn Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Ⅲ/Ⅳ layers after spinal nerve ligation, and to study the effects of the N-methyI-D-aspartic acid （NMDA） receptor antagonist, D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate （D-AP5）, and a selective group I mGluR antagonist, 7-hydroyiminocyclo propan[a]chromen-lacarboxylic acid ethyl ester （cpccoEt）. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled animal study was performed at the Department of Pharmacology, Oral Anatomy, and Neurobiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, from December 2005 to December 2006. MATERIALS： Glu （5 μmol）, D-AP5 （50 nmot） and cpccoEt （250 nmol） were provided by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Osaka, Japan, and diluted in saline （50 μL）. The pH of all solutions was adjusted to 7.4. METHODS： Twelve rats were randomly divided into sham operation （n = 6） and spinal nerve ligation （SNL; n = 6） groups for behavioral assessments of neuropathic pain after ligation surgery of the left L5-6 nerve segment. Another 60 rats were randomly divided into sham operation, SNL, saline-intraplantar, saline-intrathecal, Glu-intraplantar, Glu-intrathecal, D-AP5-intrathecal, Glu-D-AP5-intrathecal, cpccoEt-intrathecal, and Glu-cpccoEt-intrathecal groups, with 6 rats in each group. All groups except sham operation group received a similar SNL. On day 14, rats received a 50-μL injection of saline, Glu, D-AP5, and/or cpccoEt into the left intraplantar or intrathecal L5-4 segments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The number of c-Fos positive neurons in both Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Ⅲ/Ⅳ spinal layers at L6 was observed using immunohistochemistry 2 hours after administration. RESULTS： （1） SNL increased the level of c-Fos expression in two sides of the spinal cord, particularly on Ⅲ/Ⅳ spinal layers of the ligated side. （2） Intraplantar or intrathecal administration of saline significantly increased the c-Fos labeled neurons in Ⅰ/Ⅱ spinal layers of the ligated side, compared with SNL alone （P 〈 0.01）. （3） Intraplantar Glu （5 μmol） increased the number of c-Fos positive neurons in Ⅰ/Ⅱ spinal layers compared with intraplantar saline （P〈 0.01）. （4） The number of c-Fos neurons in Ⅰ/Ⅱ spinal layers on both the ipsilateral and contralateral side after intraplantar Glu was lower than intrathecal Glu （P〈 0.01）, with a 3-fold higher induction by intrathecal Glu. （5） Co-administration of D-AP5 or cpccoEt reduced the effects of intrathecal Glu （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Intrathecal Glu increases c-Fos expression more than intraplantar Glu. Antagonists of NMDA and group I mGluRs block this effect.展开更多
This study analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts with spinal nerve root fibers treated by reconstruction of the nerve root sheaths.The relationships between the...This study analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts with spinal nerve root fibers treated by reconstruction of the nerve root sheaths.The relationships between the cysts and spinal nerve root fibers were examined microscopically,the cysts were partially excised,and the defects were oversewn to reconstruct the nerve root sheaths.The Improved Japanese Orthopedic Association(IJOA)scoring system was used to evaluate preoperative and postoperative neurological function.Thirty-eight patients were included in this study,with a mean age of 41.4±15.57 years.The mean IJOA score was 18.8±1.32 preoperatively and 19.6±0.65 postoperatively,which was a significant difference(t=–3.77,P=0.001).These results indicate a significant improvement in neurological function after surgery.The most significant improvement in neurological function was sensation(z=–2.86,P=0.004),followed by bowel/bladder function(z=–2.31,P=0.02).展开更多
Objective： Contralateral C7 spinal nerve transfer is a useful operation for the treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion. The recovery of the independent function at the ipsilateral side, however, depends on neural...Objective： Contralateral C7 spinal nerve transfer is a useful operation for the treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion. The recovery of the independent function at the ipsilateral side, however, depends on neural circuitry reorganization in the central nervous system （CNS）.This study tried to locate the CNS neuronal elements involved in the innervation ofC7 spinal nerve.Method： Pseudorabies virus （PRV, TK/gG-,2 μl）, which expressed green fluorescent protein （GFP）, was injected into the left C7 spinal nerve in 20 adult Sprague Dawley rats.After rats survived for 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 36 h, the C1-C7segments of the spinal cord and brain were processed using a polyclonal immunohistochemical antibody against PRV.Results： PRV-labeled neurons were found mainly in gray matter of the C1-C7 segments of the spinal cord and at the following structures of the brain： lateral vestibular nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus, A5 cells, red nucleus, primary and secondary motor cortexes, primary and secondary somatosensory cortexes. Although located bilaterally, the PRV-labeled neurons existed predominantly in the ipsilateral side of the spinal cord and the contralateral side of the brain at 6-12 h after injection （p.i.）. The number of PRV-labeled neurons in the CNS was increasing with rat＇s survival time and the distribution of these neurons turned bilateral with no obvious dominance to either side at 24 h and 36 h （p.i.）.Conclusion： By use of transsynaptic tracing technique with PRV, the anatomically connected set of neurons,which modulates the activity of C7 spinal nerve, is located successfully in the CNS.展开更多
Most studies on peripheral nerve injury have focused on repair at the site of injury, but very few have examined the effects of repair strategies on the more proximal neuronal cell bodies. In this study, an approximat...Most studies on peripheral nerve injury have focused on repair at the site of injury, but very few have examined the effects of repair strategies on the more proximal neuronal cell bodies. In this study, an approximately 10-mm-long nerve segment from the ischial tuberosity in the rat was transected and its proximal and distal ends were inverted and sutured. The spinal cord was subjected to pulsed electrical stimulation at T10 and L3, at a current of 6.5 m A and a stimulation frequency of 15 Hz, 15 minutes per session, twice a day for 56 days. After pulsed electrical stimulation, the number of neurons in the dorsal root ganglion and anterior horn was increased in rats with sciatic nerve injury. The number of myelinated nerve fibers was increased in the sciatic nerve. The ultrastructure of neurons in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord was noticeably improved. Conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve was also increased. These results show that pulsed electrical stimulation protects sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia as well as motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord after peripheral nerve injury, and that it promotes the regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Sodium valproate (VPA) is used to be an effective anti-epileptic drug. VPA possesses the characteristics of penetrating rapidly through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and increasing levels of Bcl-2 and grow...BACKGROUND: Sodium valproate (VPA) is used to be an effective anti-epileptic drug. VPA possesses the characteristics of penetrating rapidly through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and increasing levels of Bcl-2 and growth cone-associated protein (GAP) 43 in spinal cord. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of VPA on Bcl-2 expression and motor neuronal apoptosis in spinal cord of rats following sciatic nerve transection. DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment. SETTING: Department of Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, Wuhan Puai Hospital. MATERIALS: A total of 30 male healthy SD rats of clean grade and with the body mass of 180-220 g were provided by Experimental Animal Center of Medical College of Wuhan University. Sodium Valproate Tablets were purchases from Hengrui Pharmaceutical Factory, Jiangsu. METHODS: The experiment was performed in the Central Laboratory of Wuhan Puai Hospital and Medical College of Wuhan University from February to May 2006. Totally 30 rats were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (n =15) and model group (n =15). Longitudinal incision along backside of right hind limbs of rats was made to expose sciatic nerves, which were sharply transected 1 cm distal to the inferior margin of piriform muscle after nerve liberation under operation microscope to establish sciatic nerve injury rat models. Sodium Valproate Tablets were pulverized and diluted into 50 g/L suspension with saline. On the day of operation, the rats in the treatment group received 6 mL/kg VPA suspension by gastric perfusion, once a day, whereas model group received 10 mL/kg saline by gastric perfusion, once a day. L4-6 spinal cords were obtained at days 1, 4, 7, 14 and 28 after operation, respectively. Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique and immunohistochemical method (SP method) were used to detect absorbance (A) of neurons with positive Bcl-2 expression. Apoptotic rate of cells (number of apoptotic cells/total number of cells×100%) was calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A value of neurons with positive Bcl-2 expression and apoptotic rate in spinal cord of rats in the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 30 SD rats were involved in the result analysis. ①expression of positive Bcl-2 neurons: A value of positive Bcl-2 neurons were 0.71±0.02, 0.86±0.04, 1.02±0.06 at days 4, 7 and 14, respectively after operation in the treatment group, which were obviously higher than those in the model group (0.62±0.03, 0.71±0.05, 0.89±0.04, t = 3.10-4.50, P < 0.05). ②apoptotic result of motor neurons: Apoptotic rate of motor neurons in spinal cord was (6.91±0.89)% and (15.12±2.34)% at days 7 and 14 in the treatment group, which was significantly lower than those in the model group [(9.45±1.61)%, (19.35±0.92)%, t = 2.39, 3.03. P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: VPA can increase expression of Bcl-2 in spinal cord and reduce neuronal apoptosis in rats following sciatic nerve injury, and has protective effect on motor neuron in spinal cord of rats.展开更多
To investigate the effects of continuous spinal anesthesia with different concentrations and doses of ropivacaine on the ultrastructure of the spinal cord and nerve roots.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats weighing 220...To investigate the effects of continuous spinal anesthesia with different concentrations and doses of ropivacaine on the ultrastructure of the spinal cord and nerve roots.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats weighing 220～280 g were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10% chloral hydrate 300～350 mg/kg.A polyurethane microcatheter was inserted into the lumbar subarachnoid space according to the technique described by Yaksh.An 8 cm catheter segment was left in the subarachnoid space.The animals were randomized to receive normal saline,0.5%,0.75% or 1.0% ropivacaine 40 μl intrathecally 3 times at 1.5 h interval.Six hours after the first intrathecal administration the animals were decaptiated and L 1,2 segment of the spinal cord and nerve roots were immediately removed for electron microscopic examination.Results Electron microscopic examination revealed that in animals which received intrathecal (i.t.) normal saline,0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine the neurolemma of the nerve roots and the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum of the neurons in the spinal cord were intact,while in animals which received i.t. 10.% ropivacaine the neurolemma was stratified and partly disrupted and there were swelling of endoplasmic reticulum and vacuole degeneration.Conclusion Six hours continuous spinal anesthesia with 10.% ropivacaine may be injurious to the spinal cord and nerve roots.12 refs,8 figs,1 tab.展开更多
BACKGROUND It is expected that transfer of spinal accessory nerve to suprascapular nerve,which is widely used in the restoration of the shoulder function in brachial plexus birth injury(BPBI),impairs the trapezius fun...BACKGROUND It is expected that transfer of spinal accessory nerve to suprascapular nerve,which is widely used in the restoration of the shoulder function in brachial plexus birth injury(BPBI),impairs the trapezius function.AIM To hypothesize that the lower trapezius muscle remains functional after this neve transfer.METHODS In a retrospective cross-sectional study,patients with BPBI who underwent nerve transfer from accessory nerve to supraclavicular were followed for at least six months following the operation and demographic data were extracted from the database.To assess the lower trapezius function,shoulder abduction and external rotation were examined,and electromyography and nerve conduction velocity(EMG-NCV)was performed.RESULTS A total of 19 patients with a mean age of 2.69±1.40 years and a mean follow-up of 10.5 months were included in the study.Shoulder abduction was disabled completely only in one patient(5.26%);10(52.63%)had good,3(15.78%)moderate,and 5(26.31%)had poor shoulder abduction.Regarding external rotation,one(5.26%)was unable to externally rotate the shoulder;among 18(94.73%)patients who had satisfactory results,8(42.10%)were evaluated to be good,5(26.31%)moderate,and 5(26.31%)poor.EMG-NCV showed functional lower trapezius in all patients;its function was evaluated to be good in 11(57.89%),moderate in 6(31.57%),and poor in 2(10.52%)cases.CONCLUSION This study supports the hypothesis that the lower trapezius muscle has a dual motor innervation which provides the possibility of further trapezius tendon transfer to restore a better shoulder function.展开更多
Spinal pain(SP)is a common condition that has a major negative impact on a patient’s quality of life.Recent developments in ultrasound-guided injections for the treatment of SP are increasingly being used in clinical...Spinal pain(SP)is a common condition that has a major negative impact on a patient’s quality of life.Recent developments in ultrasound-guided injections for the treatment of SP are increasingly being used in clinical practice.This clinical expert consensus describes the purpose,significance,implementation methods,indications,contraindications,and techniques of ultrasound-guided injections.This consensus offers a practical reference point for physicians to implement successfully ultrasound-guided injections in the treatment of chronic SP.展开更多
High-frequency spinal cord stimulation(HF-SCS) has been established as an effective therapy for neuropathic pain. However, the analgesic mechanisms involved in HF-SCS remain to be clarified. In our study, adult rat ne...High-frequency spinal cord stimulation(HF-SCS) has been established as an effective therapy for neuropathic pain. However, the analgesic mechanisms involved in HF-SCS remain to be clarified. In our study, adult rat neuropathic pain was induced by spinal nerve ligation. Two days after modeling, the rats were subjected to 4 hours of HF-SCS(motor threshold 50%, frequency 10,000 Hz, and pulse width 0.024 ms) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The results revealed that the tactile allodynia of spinal nerve-injured rats was markedly alleviated by HFSCS, and the effects were sustained for 3 hours after the stimulation had ceased. HF-SCS restored lysosomal function, increased the levels of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2(LAMP2) and the mature form of cathepsin D(matu-CTSD), and alleviated the abnormally elevated levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 A/B-light chain 3(LC3)-II and sequestosome 1(P62) in spinal nerve-injured rats. HF-SCS also mostly restored the immunoreactivity of LAMP2, which was localized in neurons in the superficial layers of the spinal dorsal horn in spinal nerve-injured rats. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of 15 mg/kg chloroquine for 60 minutes reversed the expression of the aforementioned proteins and shortened the timing of the analgesic effects of HF-SCS. These findings suggest that HF-SCS may exhibit longlasting analgesic effects on neuropathic pain in rats through improving lysosomal dysfunction and alleviating autophagic flux. This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of China Medical University, Shenyang, China(approval No. 2017 PS196 K) on March 1, 2017.展开更多
The fast and accurate identification of nerve tracts is critical for successful nerve anastomosis. Taking advantage of differences in acetylcholinesterase content between the spinal ventral and dorsal roots, we develo...The fast and accurate identification of nerve tracts is critical for successful nerve anastomosis. Taking advantage of differences in acetylcholinesterase content between the spinal ventral and dorsal roots, we developed a novel quartz crystal microbalance method to distinguish between these nerves based on acetylcholinesterase antibody reactivity. The acetylcholinesterase antibody was immobilized on the electrode surface of a quartz crystal microbalance and reacted with the acetylcholinesterase in sample solution. The formed antigen and antibody complexes added to the mass of the electrode inducing a change in frequency of the electrode. The spinal ventral and dorsal roots were distinguished by the change in frequency. The ventral and dorsal roots were cut into 1 to 2-mm long segments and then soaked in 250 pL PBS. Acetylcholinesterase antibody was immobilized on the quartz crystal microbalance gold electrode surface. The results revealed that in 10 minutes, both spinal ventral and dorsal roots induced a frequency change; however, the frequency change induced by the ventral roots was notably higher than that induced by the dorsal roots. No change was induced by bovine serum albumin or PBS. These results clearly demonstrate that a quartz crystal microbalance sensor can be used as a rapid, highly sensitive and accurate detection tool for the quick identification of spinal nerve roots intraoperatively.展开更多
BACKGROUND： A variety of methods have been used to identify and distinguish motor and sensory nerves. However, their application is limited clinically due to the complex operation, time consumption, and subjectivity....BACKGROUND： A variety of methods have been used to identify and distinguish motor and sensory nerves. However, their application is limited clinically due to the complex operation, time consumption, and subjectivity. Raman spectroscopy is a minimally invasive method that provides information about molecular structure and constitutions and has been frequently used for tissue identification. OBJECTIVE： To explore a time-efficient method of identifying motor and sensory fascicles in peripheral nerve trunk using laser micro-Raman spectroscopy.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A comparative observation was performed at the Key Laboratory of Excited States Physics in Chinese Academy of Science, Changchun Branch, from October 2004 to October 2005. MATERIALS： JY-HR800 laser confocal micro-Raman spectrometer was purchased from Jobin-Yvon France; 2060-10 argon ion laser was purchased from Spectra-Physics, USA. METHODS： A total of 32 New Zealand rabbits were selected and sacrificed. The roots of spinal nerves were exposed under an operating microscope, and the anterior and posterior roots, approximately 3-5 mm, were dissociated, and frozen as transverse sections of 30 μm thickness. The sections were examined by micro-Raman spectroscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The specific spectral features of motor and sensory fascicles in the Raman spectra. RESULTS： Sections of the same type of nerve fascicle showed reproducibility with similar spectral features. Significant differences in the spectral properties, such as the intensity and breadth of the peak, were found between motor and sensory fascicles in the frequency regions of 1 088, 1 276, 1 439, 1 579, and 1 659 cm^-1. With the peak intensity ratio of 1.06 （/1276//1439） as a standard, we could identify motor fascicles with a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 94 %, positive predictive value of 93% and negative predictive value of 88%. In the range of 2 700-3 500 cm^-1, the half-peak width of the motor fascicles was narrow and sharp, while that of the sensory fascicles was relatively wider. A total of 91% of the peak features were in accordance with the identification standard. CONCLUSION： Motor and sensory fascicles exhibit different characteristics in Raman spectra, which are constant and reliable. Therefore, it is an effective method to identify nerve fascicles according to the specific spectrum.展开更多
In a previous study, heat shock protein 27 was persistently upregulated in ventral motor neurons following nerve root avulsion or crush. Here, we examined whether the upregulation of heat shock protein 27 would increa...In a previous study, heat shock protein 27 was persistently upregulated in ventral motor neurons following nerve root avulsion or crush. Here, we examined whether the upregulation of heat shock protein 27 would increase the survival rate of motor neurons. Rats were divided into two groups： an avulsion-only group （avtflsion of the L4 lumbar nerve root only） and a crush-avulsion group （the L4 lumbar nerve root was crushed 1 week prior to the avulsion）. Immunofluores- cent staining revealed that the survival rate of motor neurons was significantly greater in the crush-avulsion group than in the avulsion-only group, and this difference remained for at least 5 weeks after avulsion. The higher neuronal survival rate may be explained by the upregulation of heat shock protein 27 expression in motor neurons in the crush-avulsion group. Further- more, preconditioning crush greatly attenuated the expression of nitric oxide synthase in the motor neurons. Our findings indicate that the neuroprotective action of preconditioning crush is mediated through the upregulation of heat shock protein 27 expression and the attenuation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase upregulation following avulsion.展开更多
The current study aims to ascertain the anatomical feasibility of transferring the contralateral S1 ventral root(VR)to the ipsilateral L5 VR for treating unilateral spastic lower limb paralysis.Six formalin-fixed(thre...The current study aims to ascertain the anatomical feasibility of transferring the contralateral S1 ventral root(VR)to the ipsilateral L5 VR for treating unilateral spastic lower limb paralysis.Six formalin-fixed(three males and three females)cadavers were used.The VR of the contralateral S1 was transferred to the VR of the ipsilateral L5.The sural nerve was selected as a bridge between the donor and recipient nerve.The number of axons,the cross-sectional areas and the pertinent distances between the donor and recipient nerves were measured.The extradural S1 VR and L5 VR could be separated based on anatomical markers of the dorsal root ganglion.The gross distance between the S1 nerve root and L5 nerve root was 31.31(±3.23)mm in the six cadavers,while that on the diffusion tensor imaging was 47.51(±3.23)mm in 60 patients without spinal diseases,and both distances were seperately greater than that between the outlet of S1 from the spinal cord and the ganglion.The numbers of axons in the S1 VRs and L5 VRs were 13414.20(±2890.30)and 10613.20(±2135.58),respectively.The cross-sectional areas of the S1 VR and L5 VR were 1.68(±0.26)mm2 and 1.08(±0.26)mm2,respectively.In conclusion,transfer of the contralateral S1 VR to the ipsilateral L5 VR may be an anatomically feasible treatment option for unilateral spastic lower limb paralysis.展开更多
The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of an extradural nerve anastomosis technique for the restoration of a C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.Nine fresh frozen human cadavers were used.The diameters,s...The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of an extradural nerve anastomosis technique for the restoration of a C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.Nine fresh frozen human cadavers were used.The diameters,sizes,and locations of the extradural spinal nerve roots were observed.The lengths of the extradural spinal nerve roots and the distance between the neighboring nerve root outlets were measured and compared in the cervical segments.In the spinal canal,the ventral and dorsal roots were separated by the dura and arachnoid.The ventral and dorsal roots of C7 had sufficient lengths to anastomose those of C6.The ventral and dorsal of C4 had enough length to be transferred to those of C5,respectively.The feasibility of this extradural nerve anastomosis technique for restoring C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus in human cadavers was demonstrated in our anatomical study.展开更多
Salvianolic acid B,an active pharmaceutical compound present in Salvia miltiorrhiza,exerts a neuroprotective effect in animal models of brain and spinal cord injury.Salvianolic acid B can promote recovery of neurologi...Salvianolic acid B,an active pharmaceutical compound present in Salvia miltiorrhiza,exerts a neuroprotective effect in animal models of brain and spinal cord injury.Salvianolic acid B can promote recovery of neurological function;however,its protective effect on the myelin sheath after spinal cord injury remains poorly understood.Thus,in this study,in vitro tests showed that salvianolic acid B contributed to oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation,and the most effective dose was 20μg/m L.For in vivo investigation,rats with spinal cord injury were intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg salvianolic acid B for 8 weeks.The amount of myelin sheath and the number of regenerating axons increased,neurological function recovered,and caspase-3 expression was decreased in the spinal cord of salvianolic acid B-treated animals compared with untreated control rats.These results indicate that salvianolic acid B can protect axons and the myelin sheath,and can promote the recovery of neurological function.Its mechanism of action is likely to be associated with inhibiting apoptosis and promoting the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells.展开更多
Saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng are neuroprotective, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. In the present study, we established a rat model of thoracic（T10） spinal cord transection, and...Saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng are neuroprotective, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. In the present study, we established a rat model of thoracic（T10） spinal cord transection, and injected Panax notoginseng saponins（100 mg/kg） or saline 30 minutes after injury. Locomotor functions were assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan（BBB） scale from 1 to 30 days after injury, and immunohistochemistry was carried out in the ventral horn of the spinal cord at 1 and 7 days to determine expression of nerve growth factor（NGF） and brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF）. Our results show that at 7–30 days post injury, the BBB score was higher in rats treated with Panax notoginseng saponins than in those that received saline. Furthermore, at 7 days, more NGF- and BDNF-immunoreactive neurons were observed in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of rats that had received Panax notoginseng saponins than in those that received saline. These results indicate that Panax notoginseng saponins caused an upregulation of NGF and BDNF in rats with spinal cord transection, and improved hindlimb motor function.展开更多
Cortical spreading depression can trigger migraine with aura and activate the trigeminal vascular system. To examine gene expression profiles in the spinal trigeminal nucleus in rats following cortical spreading depre...Cortical spreading depression can trigger migraine with aura and activate the trigeminal vascular system. To examine gene expression profiles in the spinal trigeminal nucleus in rats following cortical spreading depression-induced migraine with aura, a rat model was established by injection of 1 M potassium chloride, which induced cortical spreading depression. DNA microarray analysis revealed that, compared with the control group, the cortical spreading depression group showed seven upregulated genes-myosin heavy chain 1/2, myosin light chain 1, myosin light chain （phosphorylatable, fast skeletal muscle）, actin alpha 1, homeobox B8, carbonic anhydrase 3 and an unknown gene. Two genes were downregulated-RGD1563441 and an unknown gene. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and bioinformatics analysis indicated that these genes are involved in motility, cell migration, CO2/nitric oxide homeostasis and signal transduction.展开更多
Rho-associated kinase（ROCK） is a key regulatory protein involved in inflammatory secretion in microglia in the central nervous system.Our previous studies showed that ROCK inhibition enhances phagocytic activity in ...Rho-associated kinase（ROCK） is a key regulatory protein involved in inflammatory secretion in microglia in the central nervous system.Our previous studies showed that ROCK inhibition enhances phagocytic activity in microglia through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase（ERK） signaling pathway,but its effect on microglial migration was unknown.Therefore,in this study,we investigated the effects of the ROCK inhibitors Y27632 and fasudil on the migratory activity of primary cultured microglia isolated from the spinal cord,and we examined the underlying mechanisms.The microglia were treated with Y27632,fasudil and/or the ERK inhibitor U0126.Cellular morphology was observed by immunofluorescence.Transwell chambers were used to assess cell migration.ERK levels were measured by incell western blot assay.Y27632 and fasudil increased microglial migration,and the microglia were irregularly shaped and had many small processes.These inhibitors also upregulated the levels of phosphorylated ERK protein.The ERK inhibitor U0126 suppressed these effects of Y27632 and fasudil.These findings suggest that the ROCK inhibitors Y27632 and fasudil promote microglial migration in the spinal cord through the ERK signaling pathway.展开更多
基金supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 30600173,81070893)the Key Project of China Ministry of Education(No. 109003)+1 种基金the National Basic Research Development Program(973 Program) of China (No.2007CB512501)Beijing Municipal Commission of Education "Special Grants for Outstanding Ph.D Program Tutors"
文摘Objective The present study aimed to investigate the electrophysiological properties of wide dynamic range （WDR） neurons in spinal dorsal horn of rats with neuropathic pain induced by lumber 5 （L5） spinal nerve ligation （SNL） in a large size of samples.Methods Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal and SNL groups.Electrophysiological technique was used to record the characteristics of WDR neurons in the spinal dorsal horn.Results Compared with the WDR neurons in normal rats,the WDR neurons in SNL rats showed an increase in excitability,manifested by an enlargement of the receptive field size,an increase in the proportion of neurons that exhibited spontaneous activities,decreases in the Cresponse threshold and latency,and an increase in the C-response duration.In addition,the numbers of A-and C-fiberevoked discharges were smaller in SNL rats than in normal rats.Conclusion The excitability of spinal WDR neurons increased in rats with neuropathic pain induced by L5 SNL.The increase in excitability of WDR neurons may contribute to the development of neuropathic pain.
基金supported by the Special Grant for Scientific and Technological Development Conducted by The Central Government of China in 2016:Quality Test and Operation with Anesthesia Center of Experimental Animal of Hubei Province,No.2060403(to BHZ)
文摘Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor has anti-apoptotic,anti-inflammatory,and neuroprotective effects.It is now recognized that the occurrence and development of chronic pain are strongly associated with anti-inflammatory responses;however,it is not clear whether glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor regulates chronic pain via anti-inflammatory mechanisms.We explored the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor on nociception,cognition,and neuroinflammation in chronic pain.A rat model of chronic pain was established using left L5 spinal nerve ligation.The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist exendin-4 was intrathecally injected into rats from 10 to 21 days after spinal nerve ligation.Electrophysiological examinations showed that,after treatment with exendin-4,paw withdrawal frequency of the left limb was significantly reduced,and pain was relieved.In addition,in the Morris water maze test,escape latency increased and the time to reach the platform decreased following exendin-4 treatment.Immunohistochemical staining and western blot assays revealed an increase in the numbers of activated microglia and astrocytes in the dentate gyrus of rat hippocampus,as well as an increase in the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha,interleukin 1 beta,and interleukin 6.All of these effects could be reversed by exendin-4 treatment.These findings suggest that exendin-4 can alleviate pain-induced neuroinflammatory responses and promote the recovery of cognitive function via the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor pathway.All experimental procedures and protocols were approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University of China(approval No.WDRM 20171214)on September 22,2017.
基金the Scientific and Technological Research Project of Jiangxi Provincial Public Health Bureau,No.20071090
文摘BACKGROUND： Injection of glutamate （Glu） in normal animals can cause neuronal c-Fos expression; however, whether Glu can induce spinal neuronal c-Fos expression in pain models is unclear. OBJECTIVE： To examine the effects of intraplantar and intrathecal injection of Glu on c-Fos expression in the L5 spinal cord dorsal horn Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Ⅲ/Ⅳ layers after spinal nerve ligation, and to study the effects of the N-methyI-D-aspartic acid （NMDA） receptor antagonist, D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate （D-AP5）, and a selective group I mGluR antagonist, 7-hydroyiminocyclo propan[a]chromen-lacarboxylic acid ethyl ester （cpccoEt）. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled animal study was performed at the Department of Pharmacology, Oral Anatomy, and Neurobiology, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, from December 2005 to December 2006. MATERIALS： Glu （5 μmol）, D-AP5 （50 nmot） and cpccoEt （250 nmol） were provided by Wako Pure Chemical Industries, Osaka, Japan, and diluted in saline （50 μL）. The pH of all solutions was adjusted to 7.4. METHODS： Twelve rats were randomly divided into sham operation （n = 6） and spinal nerve ligation （SNL; n = 6） groups for behavioral assessments of neuropathic pain after ligation surgery of the left L5-6 nerve segment. Another 60 rats were randomly divided into sham operation, SNL, saline-intraplantar, saline-intrathecal, Glu-intraplantar, Glu-intrathecal, D-AP5-intrathecal, Glu-D-AP5-intrathecal, cpccoEt-intrathecal, and Glu-cpccoEt-intrathecal groups, with 6 rats in each group. All groups except sham operation group received a similar SNL. On day 14, rats received a 50-μL injection of saline, Glu, D-AP5, and/or cpccoEt into the left intraplantar or intrathecal L5-4 segments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The number of c-Fos positive neurons in both Ⅰ/Ⅱ and Ⅲ/Ⅳ spinal layers at L6 was observed using immunohistochemistry 2 hours after administration. RESULTS： （1） SNL increased the level of c-Fos expression in two sides of the spinal cord, particularly on Ⅲ/Ⅳ spinal layers of the ligated side. （2） Intraplantar or intrathecal administration of saline significantly increased the c-Fos labeled neurons in Ⅰ/Ⅱ spinal layers of the ligated side, compared with SNL alone （P 〈 0.01）. （3） Intraplantar Glu （5 μmol） increased the number of c-Fos positive neurons in Ⅰ/Ⅱ spinal layers compared with intraplantar saline （P〈 0.01）. （4） The number of c-Fos neurons in Ⅰ/Ⅱ spinal layers on both the ipsilateral and contralateral side after intraplantar Glu was lower than intrathecal Glu （P〈 0.01）, with a 3-fold higher induction by intrathecal Glu. （5） Co-administration of D-AP5 or cpccoEt reduced the effects of intrathecal Glu （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Intrathecal Glu increases c-Fos expression more than intraplantar Glu. Antagonists of NMDA and group I mGluRs block this effect.
基金supported by grants from the Science Foundation for the Excellent Youth Scholars of Ministry of Education of China(200800011035)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81200969/H0912)
文摘This study analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of sacral extradural spinal meningeal cysts with spinal nerve root fibers treated by reconstruction of the nerve root sheaths.The relationships between the cysts and spinal nerve root fibers were examined microscopically,the cysts were partially excised,and the defects were oversewn to reconstruct the nerve root sheaths.The Improved Japanese Orthopedic Association(IJOA)scoring system was used to evaluate preoperative and postoperative neurological function.Thirty-eight patients were included in this study,with a mean age of 41.4±15.57 years.The mean IJOA score was 18.8±1.32 preoperatively and 19.6±0.65 postoperatively,which was a significant difference(t=–3.77,P=0.001).These results indicate a significant improvement in neurological function after surgery.The most significant improvement in neurological function was sensation(z=–2.86,P=0.004),followed by bowel/bladder function(z=–2.31,P=0.02).
文摘Objective： Contralateral C7 spinal nerve transfer is a useful operation for the treatment of brachial plexus root avulsion. The recovery of the independent function at the ipsilateral side, however, depends on neural circuitry reorganization in the central nervous system （CNS）.This study tried to locate the CNS neuronal elements involved in the innervation ofC7 spinal nerve.Method： Pseudorabies virus （PRV, TK/gG-,2 μl）, which expressed green fluorescent protein （GFP）, was injected into the left C7 spinal nerve in 20 adult Sprague Dawley rats.After rats survived for 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 36 h, the C1-C7segments of the spinal cord and brain were processed using a polyclonal immunohistochemical antibody against PRV.Results： PRV-labeled neurons were found mainly in gray matter of the C1-C7 segments of the spinal cord and at the following structures of the brain： lateral vestibular nucleus, lateral paragigantocellular nucleus, A5 cells, red nucleus, primary and secondary motor cortexes, primary and secondary somatosensory cortexes. Although located bilaterally, the PRV-labeled neurons existed predominantly in the ipsilateral side of the spinal cord and the contralateral side of the brain at 6-12 h after injection （p.i.）. The number of PRV-labeled neurons in the CNS was increasing with rat＇s survival time and the distribution of these neurons turned bilateral with no obvious dominance to either side at 24 h and 36 h （p.i.）.Conclusion： By use of transsynaptic tracing technique with PRV, the anatomically connected set of neurons,which modulates the activity of C7 spinal nerve, is located successfully in the CNS.
基金supported by the Key Scientific and Technological Program of Linyi City of China,No.201313026
文摘Most studies on peripheral nerve injury have focused on repair at the site of injury, but very few have examined the effects of repair strategies on the more proximal neuronal cell bodies. In this study, an approximately 10-mm-long nerve segment from the ischial tuberosity in the rat was transected and its proximal and distal ends were inverted and sutured. The spinal cord was subjected to pulsed electrical stimulation at T10 and L3, at a current of 6.5 m A and a stimulation frequency of 15 Hz, 15 minutes per session, twice a day for 56 days. After pulsed electrical stimulation, the number of neurons in the dorsal root ganglion and anterior horn was increased in rats with sciatic nerve injury. The number of myelinated nerve fibers was increased in the sciatic nerve. The ultrastructure of neurons in the dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord was noticeably improved. Conduction velocity of the sciatic nerve was also increased. These results show that pulsed electrical stimulation protects sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia as well as motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord after peripheral nerve injury, and that it promotes the regeneration of peripheral nerve fibers.
文摘BACKGROUND: Sodium valproate (VPA) is used to be an effective anti-epileptic drug. VPA possesses the characteristics of penetrating rapidly through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and increasing levels of Bcl-2 and growth cone-associated protein (GAP) 43 in spinal cord. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of VPA on Bcl-2 expression and motor neuronal apoptosis in spinal cord of rats following sciatic nerve transection. DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment. SETTING: Department of Hand Surgery and Microsurgery, Wuhan Puai Hospital. MATERIALS: A total of 30 male healthy SD rats of clean grade and with the body mass of 180-220 g were provided by Experimental Animal Center of Medical College of Wuhan University. Sodium Valproate Tablets were purchases from Hengrui Pharmaceutical Factory, Jiangsu. METHODS: The experiment was performed in the Central Laboratory of Wuhan Puai Hospital and Medical College of Wuhan University from February to May 2006. Totally 30 rats were randomly divided into two groups: treatment group (n =15) and model group (n =15). Longitudinal incision along backside of right hind limbs of rats was made to expose sciatic nerves, which were sharply transected 1 cm distal to the inferior margin of piriform muscle after nerve liberation under operation microscope to establish sciatic nerve injury rat models. Sodium Valproate Tablets were pulverized and diluted into 50 g/L suspension with saline. On the day of operation, the rats in the treatment group received 6 mL/kg VPA suspension by gastric perfusion, once a day, whereas model group received 10 mL/kg saline by gastric perfusion, once a day. L4-6 spinal cords were obtained at days 1, 4, 7, 14 and 28 after operation, respectively. Terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique and immunohistochemical method (SP method) were used to detect absorbance (A) of neurons with positive Bcl-2 expression. Apoptotic rate of cells (number of apoptotic cells/total number of cells×100%) was calculated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A value of neurons with positive Bcl-2 expression and apoptotic rate in spinal cord of rats in the two groups. RESULTS: A total of 30 SD rats were involved in the result analysis. ①expression of positive Bcl-2 neurons: A value of positive Bcl-2 neurons were 0.71±0.02, 0.86±0.04, 1.02±0.06 at days 4, 7 and 14, respectively after operation in the treatment group, which were obviously higher than those in the model group (0.62±0.03, 0.71±0.05, 0.89±0.04, t = 3.10-4.50, P < 0.05). ②apoptotic result of motor neurons: Apoptotic rate of motor neurons in spinal cord was (6.91±0.89)% and (15.12±2.34)% at days 7 and 14 in the treatment group, which was significantly lower than those in the model group [(9.45±1.61)%, (19.35±0.92)%, t = 2.39, 3.03. P < 0.05]. CONCLUSION: VPA can increase expression of Bcl-2 in spinal cord and reduce neuronal apoptosis in rats following sciatic nerve injury, and has protective effect on motor neuron in spinal cord of rats.
文摘To investigate the effects of continuous spinal anesthesia with different concentrations and doses of ropivacaine on the ultrastructure of the spinal cord and nerve roots.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats weighing 220～280 g were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10% chloral hydrate 300～350 mg/kg.A polyurethane microcatheter was inserted into the lumbar subarachnoid space according to the technique described by Yaksh.An 8 cm catheter segment was left in the subarachnoid space.The animals were randomized to receive normal saline,0.5%,0.75% or 1.0% ropivacaine 40 μl intrathecally 3 times at 1.5 h interval.Six hours after the first intrathecal administration the animals were decaptiated and L 1,2 segment of the spinal cord and nerve roots were immediately removed for electron microscopic examination.Results Electron microscopic examination revealed that in animals which received intrathecal (i.t.) normal saline,0.5% or 0.75% ropivacaine the neurolemma of the nerve roots and the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum of the neurons in the spinal cord were intact,while in animals which received i.t. 10.% ropivacaine the neurolemma was stratified and partly disrupted and there were swelling of endoplasmic reticulum and vacuole degeneration.Conclusion Six hours continuous spinal anesthesia with 10.% ropivacaine may be injurious to the spinal cord and nerve roots.12 refs,8 figs,1 tab.
文摘BACKGROUND It is expected that transfer of spinal accessory nerve to suprascapular nerve,which is widely used in the restoration of the shoulder function in brachial plexus birth injury(BPBI),impairs the trapezius function.AIM To hypothesize that the lower trapezius muscle remains functional after this neve transfer.METHODS In a retrospective cross-sectional study,patients with BPBI who underwent nerve transfer from accessory nerve to supraclavicular were followed for at least six months following the operation and demographic data were extracted from the database.To assess the lower trapezius function,shoulder abduction and external rotation were examined,and electromyography and nerve conduction velocity(EMG-NCV)was performed.RESULTS A total of 19 patients with a mean age of 2.69±1.40 years and a mean follow-up of 10.5 months were included in the study.Shoulder abduction was disabled completely only in one patient(5.26%);10(52.63%)had good,3(15.78%)moderate,and 5(26.31%)had poor shoulder abduction.Regarding external rotation,one(5.26%)was unable to externally rotate the shoulder;among 18(94.73%)patients who had satisfactory results,8(42.10%)were evaluated to be good,5(26.31%)moderate,and 5(26.31%)poor.EMG-NCV showed functional lower trapezius in all patients;its function was evaluated to be good in 11(57.89%),moderate in 6(31.57%),and poor in 2(10.52%)cases.CONCLUSION This study supports the hypothesis that the lower trapezius muscle has a dual motor innervation which provides the possibility of further trapezius tendon transfer to restore a better shoulder function.
文摘Spinal pain(SP)is a common condition that has a major negative impact on a patient’s quality of life.Recent developments in ultrasound-guided injections for the treatment of SP are increasingly being used in clinical practice.This clinical expert consensus describes the purpose,significance,implementation methods,indications,contraindications,and techniques of ultrasound-guided injections.This consensus offers a practical reference point for physicians to implement successfully ultrasound-guided injections in the treatment of chronic SP.
基金supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China,No.81870838Liaoning Province Distinguished Professor Support Program of China,No.XLYC1802096+1 种基金Shenyang Clinical Medicine Research Center of Anesthesiology of China,Nos.19-110-4-24,20-204-4-44the Outstanding Scientific Foundation of Shengjing Hospital of China,No.201708(all to PZ)。
文摘High-frequency spinal cord stimulation(HF-SCS) has been established as an effective therapy for neuropathic pain. However, the analgesic mechanisms involved in HF-SCS remain to be clarified. In our study, adult rat neuropathic pain was induced by spinal nerve ligation. Two days after modeling, the rats were subjected to 4 hours of HF-SCS(motor threshold 50%, frequency 10,000 Hz, and pulse width 0.024 ms) in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. The results revealed that the tactile allodynia of spinal nerve-injured rats was markedly alleviated by HFSCS, and the effects were sustained for 3 hours after the stimulation had ceased. HF-SCS restored lysosomal function, increased the levels of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2(LAMP2) and the mature form of cathepsin D(matu-CTSD), and alleviated the abnormally elevated levels of microtubule-associated protein 1 A/B-light chain 3(LC3)-II and sequestosome 1(P62) in spinal nerve-injured rats. HF-SCS also mostly restored the immunoreactivity of LAMP2, which was localized in neurons in the superficial layers of the spinal dorsal horn in spinal nerve-injured rats. In addition, intraperitoneal administration of 15 mg/kg chloroquine for 60 minutes reversed the expression of the aforementioned proteins and shortened the timing of the analgesic effects of HF-SCS. These findings suggest that HF-SCS may exhibit longlasting analgesic effects on neuropathic pain in rats through improving lysosomal dysfunction and alleviating autophagic flux. This study was approved by the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee of China Medical University, Shenyang, China(approval No. 2017 PS196 K) on March 1, 2017.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No. 30973058,81171694Jiangsu Province Natural Science Foundation,No. BE2010743+2 种基金Jiangsu Graduate Student Innovation Project,No.CXZZ11_0721the Program for Development of Innovative Research Team in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University,No. IRT-015a Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
文摘The fast and accurate identification of nerve tracts is critical for successful nerve anastomosis. Taking advantage of differences in acetylcholinesterase content between the spinal ventral and dorsal roots, we developed a novel quartz crystal microbalance method to distinguish between these nerves based on acetylcholinesterase antibody reactivity. The acetylcholinesterase antibody was immobilized on the electrode surface of a quartz crystal microbalance and reacted with the acetylcholinesterase in sample solution. The formed antigen and antibody complexes added to the mass of the electrode inducing a change in frequency of the electrode. The spinal ventral and dorsal roots were distinguished by the change in frequency. The ventral and dorsal roots were cut into 1 to 2-mm long segments and then soaked in 250 pL PBS. Acetylcholinesterase antibody was immobilized on the quartz crystal microbalance gold electrode surface. The results revealed that in 10 minutes, both spinal ventral and dorsal roots induced a frequency change; however, the frequency change induced by the ventral roots was notably higher than that induced by the dorsal roots. No change was induced by bovine serum albumin or PBS. These results clearly demonstrate that a quartz crystal microbalance sensor can be used as a rapid, highly sensitive and accurate detection tool for the quick identification of spinal nerve roots intraoperatively.
文摘BACKGROUND： A variety of methods have been used to identify and distinguish motor and sensory nerves. However, their application is limited clinically due to the complex operation, time consumption, and subjectivity. Raman spectroscopy is a minimally invasive method that provides information about molecular structure and constitutions and has been frequently used for tissue identification. OBJECTIVE： To explore a time-efficient method of identifying motor and sensory fascicles in peripheral nerve trunk using laser micro-Raman spectroscopy.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A comparative observation was performed at the Key Laboratory of Excited States Physics in Chinese Academy of Science, Changchun Branch, from October 2004 to October 2005. MATERIALS： JY-HR800 laser confocal micro-Raman spectrometer was purchased from Jobin-Yvon France; 2060-10 argon ion laser was purchased from Spectra-Physics, USA. METHODS： A total of 32 New Zealand rabbits were selected and sacrificed. The roots of spinal nerves were exposed under an operating microscope, and the anterior and posterior roots, approximately 3-5 mm, were dissociated, and frozen as transverse sections of 30 μm thickness. The sections were examined by micro-Raman spectroscopy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： The specific spectral features of motor and sensory fascicles in the Raman spectra. RESULTS： Sections of the same type of nerve fascicle showed reproducibility with similar spectral features. Significant differences in the spectral properties, such as the intensity and breadth of the peak, were found between motor and sensory fascicles in the frequency regions of 1 088, 1 276, 1 439, 1 579, and 1 659 cm^-1. With the peak intensity ratio of 1.06 （/1276//1439） as a standard, we could identify motor fascicles with a sensitivity of 88%, specificity of 94 %, positive predictive value of 93% and negative predictive value of 88%. In the range of 2 700-3 500 cm^-1, the half-peak width of the motor fascicles was narrow and sharp, while that of the sensory fascicles was relatively wider. A total of 91% of the peak features were in accordance with the identification standard. CONCLUSION： Motor and sensory fascicles exhibit different characteristics in Raman spectra, which are constant and reliable. Therefore, it is an effective method to identify nerve fascicles according to the specific spectrum.
基金supported by a grant from Education Ministry of Jiangsu Province,No.08KJB310002Excellent Discipline of Jiangsu Province,No.JX10131801096
文摘In a previous study, heat shock protein 27 was persistently upregulated in ventral motor neurons following nerve root avulsion or crush. Here, we examined whether the upregulation of heat shock protein 27 would increase the survival rate of motor neurons. Rats were divided into two groups： an avulsion-only group （avtflsion of the L4 lumbar nerve root only） and a crush-avulsion group （the L4 lumbar nerve root was crushed 1 week prior to the avulsion）. Immunofluores- cent staining revealed that the survival rate of motor neurons was significantly greater in the crush-avulsion group than in the avulsion-only group, and this difference remained for at least 5 weeks after avulsion. The higher neuronal survival rate may be explained by the upregulation of heat shock protein 27 expression in motor neurons in the crush-avulsion group. Further- more, preconditioning crush greatly attenuated the expression of nitric oxide synthase in the motor neurons. Our findings indicate that the neuroprotective action of preconditioning crush is mediated through the upregulation of heat shock protein 27 expression and the attenuation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase upregulation following avulsion.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.81871773).
文摘The current study aims to ascertain the anatomical feasibility of transferring the contralateral S1 ventral root(VR)to the ipsilateral L5 VR for treating unilateral spastic lower limb paralysis.Six formalin-fixed(three males and three females)cadavers were used.The VR of the contralateral S1 was transferred to the VR of the ipsilateral L5.The sural nerve was selected as a bridge between the donor and recipient nerve.The number of axons,the cross-sectional areas and the pertinent distances between the donor and recipient nerves were measured.The extradural S1 VR and L5 VR could be separated based on anatomical markers of the dorsal root ganglion.The gross distance between the S1 nerve root and L5 nerve root was 31.31(±3.23)mm in the six cadavers,while that on the diffusion tensor imaging was 47.51(±3.23)mm in 60 patients without spinal diseases,and both distances were seperately greater than that between the outlet of S1 from the spinal cord and the ganglion.The numbers of axons in the S1 VRs and L5 VRs were 13414.20(±2890.30)and 10613.20(±2135.58),respectively.The cross-sectional areas of the S1 VR and L5 VR were 1.68(±0.26)mm2 and 1.08(±0.26)mm2,respectively.In conclusion,transfer of the contralateral S1 VR to the ipsilateral L5 VR may be an anatomically feasible treatment option for unilateral spastic lower limb paralysis.
基金supported by the National NaturalScience Foundation of China(Grant#81401791,#81371968,#81672152)A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions
文摘The study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of an extradural nerve anastomosis technique for the restoration of a C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus.Nine fresh frozen human cadavers were used.The diameters,sizes,and locations of the extradural spinal nerve roots were observed.The lengths of the extradural spinal nerve roots and the distance between the neighboring nerve root outlets were measured and compared in the cervical segments.In the spinal canal,the ventral and dorsal roots were separated by the dura and arachnoid.The ventral and dorsal roots of C7 had sufficient lengths to anastomose those of C6.The ventral and dorsal of C4 had enough length to be transferred to those of C5,respectively.The feasibility of this extradural nerve anastomosis technique for restoring C5 and C6 avulsion of the brachial plexus in human cadavers was demonstrated in our anatomical study.
基金supported by a grant of Guangdong Medical University of China,No.XB1380
文摘Salvianolic acid B,an active pharmaceutical compound present in Salvia miltiorrhiza,exerts a neuroprotective effect in animal models of brain and spinal cord injury.Salvianolic acid B can promote recovery of neurological function;however,its protective effect on the myelin sheath after spinal cord injury remains poorly understood.Thus,in this study,in vitro tests showed that salvianolic acid B contributed to oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation,and the most effective dose was 20μg/m L.For in vivo investigation,rats with spinal cord injury were intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg salvianolic acid B for 8 weeks.The amount of myelin sheath and the number of regenerating axons increased,neurological function recovered,and caspase-3 expression was decreased in the spinal cord of salvianolic acid B-treated animals compared with untreated control rats.These results indicate that salvianolic acid B can protect axons and the myelin sheath,and can promote the recovery of neurological function.Its mechanism of action is likely to be associated with inhibiting apoptosis and promoting the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells.
文摘Saponins extracted from Panax notoginseng are neuroprotective, but the mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear. In the present study, we established a rat model of thoracic（T10） spinal cord transection, and injected Panax notoginseng saponins（100 mg/kg） or saline 30 minutes after injury. Locomotor functions were assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan（BBB） scale from 1 to 30 days after injury, and immunohistochemistry was carried out in the ventral horn of the spinal cord at 1 and 7 days to determine expression of nerve growth factor（NGF） and brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF）. Our results show that at 7–30 days post injury, the BBB score was higher in rats treated with Panax notoginseng saponins than in those that received saline. Furthermore, at 7 days, more NGF- and BDNF-immunoreactive neurons were observed in the ventral horn of the spinal cord of rats that had received Panax notoginseng saponins than in those that received saline. These results indicate that Panax notoginseng saponins caused an upregulation of NGF and BDNF in rats with spinal cord transection, and improved hindlimb motor function.
基金supported by the General Program ofthe National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.30970417
文摘Cortical spreading depression can trigger migraine with aura and activate the trigeminal vascular system. To examine gene expression profiles in the spinal trigeminal nucleus in rats following cortical spreading depression-induced migraine with aura, a rat model was established by injection of 1 M potassium chloride, which induced cortical spreading depression. DNA microarray analysis revealed that, compared with the control group, the cortical spreading depression group showed seven upregulated genes-myosin heavy chain 1/2, myosin light chain 1, myosin light chain （phosphorylatable, fast skeletal muscle）, actin alpha 1, homeobox B8, carbonic anhydrase 3 and an unknown gene. Two genes were downregulated-RGD1563441 and an unknown gene. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR and bioinformatics analysis indicated that these genes are involved in motility, cell migration, CO2/nitric oxide homeostasis and signal transduction.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81471200,81771341
文摘Rho-associated kinase（ROCK） is a key regulatory protein involved in inflammatory secretion in microglia in the central nervous system.Our previous studies showed that ROCK inhibition enhances phagocytic activity in microglia through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase（ERK） signaling pathway,but its effect on microglial migration was unknown.Therefore,in this study,we investigated the effects of the ROCK inhibitors Y27632 and fasudil on the migratory activity of primary cultured microglia isolated from the spinal cord,and we examined the underlying mechanisms.The microglia were treated with Y27632,fasudil and/or the ERK inhibitor U0126.Cellular morphology was observed by immunofluorescence.Transwell chambers were used to assess cell migration.ERK levels were measured by incell western blot assay.Y27632 and fasudil increased microglial migration,and the microglia were irregularly shaped and had many small processes.These inhibitors also upregulated the levels of phosphorylated ERK protein.The ERK inhibitor U0126 suppressed these effects of Y27632 and fasudil.These findings suggest that the ROCK inhibitors Y27632 and fasudil promote microglial migration in the spinal cord through the ERK signaling pathway.
