Abstract:

Objective To explore the expression patterns of Versican V1/V2 after injury of spinal cord in adult rats. Methods Thirty-nine adult rats were randomly divided into control group (sham-operation group, n=9) and experiment group (n=30), and rat models of spinal cord injury were established in experiment group using New York University impact injury device. The changes of Versican V1/V2 expression after spinal cord injury were observed by Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent technique. Results Real-time PCR revealed that compared to control group, the expression of Versican V1 mRNA in experiment group slightly increased 4 h after injury (P>0.05), reached the peak 1 d after injury (P<0.01) and remained at elevated levels up to 7 d after injury (P<0.01). While the expression of Versican V2 mRNA increased a little slowly, slightly increased 1 d after injury (P>0.05) and peaked 7 d after injury (P<0.01), then diminished quickly, and returned to the level of control group 14 d after injury (P>0.05). Immunohistochemistry detection demonstrated that the expression of Versican significantly increased in injured spinal cord parenchyma 3 d after injury, and its staining was observed throughout the entire length of a 10 mm-long cord segment containing the injury epicenter. Immunofluorescent staining indicated that colocalization of Versican was found in the neurons with positive βⅢ-tubulin, astrocytes with positive GFAP and oligodendrocytes with positive MBP. Conclusion The increased expression of Versican may be involved in forming the environment of inhibiting axonal regeneration following injury. Optimization of strategies to enhance regeneration may need to target different Versican isoforms over an extended period following injury.

Key words: spinal cord, injury, Versican, rat