Effect of tetrandrine on expressions of inflammatory mediators and nestin after spinal cord injury in rats

Abstract

Objective To measure the effect of tetrandrineon (Tet) on inflammatory mediators and endogenous neural stem cell proliferation after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods A total of 162 Wistar rats were separated into injury group, Tet group and sham operation group according to the random number table, with 54 rats per group. Allen's method was used for induction of experimental SCI. Animals in Tet group were given Tet (22.5 mg/kg) through the tail vein at 30 min, 24 h and 48 h postinjury. The same volume of normal saline was given to other two groups. Spinal cord tissue samples were taken from the rats after injury to measure levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- α, interleukin (IL)-1 β and IL-10, and tissues were examined with HE staining and Nestin immunohistochemistry staining. Results Levels of TNF- α, IL-1 βand IL-10 in injury and Tet groups increased compared to these in sham operation group at 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d and 1 week postinjury (P<0.05). At the same time point, level of IL-10 was higher in Tet group than in injury group, but inversely for TNF- α and IL-1 β (P<0.05). More Nestin-positive cells were present in injury and Tet groups than in sham operation group at 1 d, 3 d, 1 week, 2 week, 3 week and 4 week postinjury (P<0.05). Additionally, more Nestin-positive cells were found in Tet group than in injury group at 1 d, 3 d, 1 week, 2 week and 3 week postinjury (P<0.05). Conclusion Tet is effective to relieve inflammatory reaction, increase neural stem cell number and promote neurological recovery after SCI. Key words: Inflammation mediators; Neural stem cells; Spinal cord injuries; Tetrandrine