Prostaglandins modulate constitutive isoform of heat shock protein (72 kD) response following trauma to the rat spinal cord.

Abstract

The influence of prostaglandins on the constitutive isoform of heat shock protein (HSP 72 kD) response following a focal trauma to the rat spinal cord was examined using immunohistochemistry. A focal trauma to the spinal cord by making a longitudinal incision into the right dorsal (about 2 mm deep and 5 mm long) of the T10-11 segments, markedly enhanced the upregulation of HSP immunoreactivity in the traumatised as well as in the perifocal T9 and T12 segments. This upregulation of HSP was significantly reduced by pretreatment with indomethacin (10 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min before injury) an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. These results show that blockade of PG synthesis prior to trauma has an inhibitory influence on the upregulation of HSP response, not reported earlier.