Objective To investigate the influence of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) on the expression of NF-κB and neuron apoptosis after spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Methods Fourty-eight healthy SD male rats, weighing 220-270 g, were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group, with 24 rats in each group. A model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury was completed by intercepting the rats’ abdominal aorta between right and left renal arteries for 30 minunts. In the experimental group, each rat was injected 20 mg/kg DG via subl ingual vein 10 minutes before ischemia occurred. Equal qual ities of physiological sal ine were injected into the rats in the control group. The two groups were observed at 3, 24, 72 and 168 hours after ischemia-reperfusion, respectively. Lumbar myeloid tissues were prepared at the different times, respectively. The expression of NF-κB p65 in lumbar myeloidtissues was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and the apoptosis of neurons was examined by TUNEL reaction. Meanwhile, histological changes of spinal cord were observed by HE staining. Then the correlation between NF-κB and neuron apoptosis was analyzed. Results HE staining showed obvious histological changes of spinal cord of the two groups. In the control group, myeloid tissue edema and normal neurons were observed at 3 hours; there were more histological changes at 24 hours and 72 hours; vacuolus in gray matters and some survived neurons were seen at 168 hours. The histological changes at each time in the experimental group were fewer than those in the control group. The immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of NF-κB p65 was observed. After ischemia-reperfusion, the expression strengthened at 3 hours, reached the peak at 24 hours and then weakened slowly. At 3, 24, 72 and 168 hours after ischemia-reperfusion, the absorbency (A) value of NF-κB p65 in the experimental group was 0.306 0 ± 0.024 4, 0.396 4 ± 0.022 7, 0.296 6 ± 0.021 1 and 0.267 9 ± 0.015 3, respectively, and that in the control group was 0.361 1 ± 0.017 7, 0.496 6 ± 0.020 1, 0.356 3 ± 0.021 0 and 0.301 4 ± 0.018 1, respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (P lt; 0.05). The inhabitation ratio of NF- κB p65 expression by DG was 15.40%, 20.17%, 19.28% and 11.11% at 3, 24, 72 and 168 hours after ischemia-reperfusion, respectively. Neuron apoptosis was observed, which strengthened at 3 hours and was the most serious at 24 and 168 hours after ischemia-reperfusion. At 3, 24, 72 and 168 hours after ischemia-reperfusion, the A value of neuron apoptosis in the experimental group was 0.171 0 ± 0.029 1, 0.175 5 ± 0.031 1, 0.175 1 ± 0.027 9 and 0.183 2 ± 0.023 7, respectively, and that in the control group was 0.236 8 ± 0.063 6, 0.241 2 ± 0.042 6, 0.201 5 ± 0.049 8 and 0.250 1 ± 0.048 4, respectively. There were significant differences between the two groups (P lt; 0.05). The inhabitation ratio of neuron apoptosis by DG was 27.79%, 27.23%, 13.08% and 26.74% at 3, 24, 72 and 168 hours after ischemia-reperfusion, respectively. The expression of NF-κB in myeloid tissues was positively correlated with neurons apoptosis in the two groups (r = 0.838, P lt; 0.01). Conclusion Spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury may cause a marked expression of NF-κB and notable evidence of neurons apoptosis. DGcan reduce neurons apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of NF-κB.
Objective To investigate the effects of lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on the formation of traumatic neuroma and pain after transection of sciatic nerve in rats. Methods Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 200-220 g, half male and half female, were allocated into 2 groups randomly: LBP group and control group (n=20 per group). The right sciatic nerves were transected and 2 cm sciatic nerve were removed in all rats of the 2 groups. LBP were intraperitoneally injected in a volum of 10 mg/(kg·d) in the LBP group, while the same volum normal sal ine (NS) in the control group for 28 days. The deficiency of toenail and toe were observed to estimate the autophagy of the operated l imb. Light microscope and transmission electron microscope were used to observe the formation of traumatic neuroma aftertransection of sciatic nerve. Results Autophagy was observed in 5 rats (25%) of LBP group and in 12 rats (60%) of controlgroup at 4 weeks, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). Neuroma formed in 8 rats (40%) of LBP group and in 16 rats(80%) of control group, showing significant difference (P lt; 0.05). The observation of l ight microscope showed that there were unorganized growth cells in the neuroma, infiltrated muscle cells, the regeneration of axons and ensheathing cells to form small patch and funicular structure in the control group, while in the LBP group there were less prol iferation of nerve fibers with a regular arrangement. Transmission electron microscope showed that there were lots of axons in nerve tumour, more fusoid fibroblasts, more collagen fiber, and hyperplasia and degenerated myel in sheath in the control group, while in the LBP group there were less myel in sheath in the proximal end of injuring nerves, less Schwann cells and fibroblasts, and sparsed collagen fibers. Conclusion LBP can inhibit autophagy and the formation of traumatic neuroma after transection of sciatic nerve in rats.