EFFECTS OF NERVE GROWTH FACTOR ON ENDOTHELIN AFTER SPINAL CORD INJURY IN RATS

Objective To investigate the protective mechanisms of nerve growth factor (NGF) on spinal cord injury.Methods The spinal cord injury (SCI) of Wistar rats was performed by a 10g×2.5cm impact on the posterior T12 spinal cord.The experimental animals received NGF liquid by subarachnoid space tube.The radioimmunological techniques were applied to examine the level of endothelin.Results The level of endothelin was significantly increased after the injury as compared with that in control group(P＜0.01).The level of endothelin in NGF group as obviously lowered as compared with that in normal saline group 4 h after injury (P＜0.01).Conclusion NGF can protect spinal cord against injury in vivo.One of the mechanisms is that NGF could inhibit endothelin-induced vicious circle.