Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Following peripheral nerve transplantation, the time phases and law of growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) expression in sensory neuron soma of the corresponding dorsal root ganglia remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of GAP-43 at the corresponding dorsal root ganglia following sciatic nerve transplantation in rats.
METHODS: Adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups: control group (sham-operated group) and experimental group (nerve transplantation group). The rats were killed at 3 days, 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after operation and the dorsal root ganglia L4-5 of every rat was taken for observation. The expression of GAP-43 mRNA and protein in the corresponding segments of spinal cord were detected by RT-PCR and Western-blot techniques.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: GAP-43 mRNA showed a low level of expression in the control group, which had no obvious changes in different phases. In the experimental group, GAP-43 mRNA expression was observed remarkably in the dorsal root ganglia at the first week, reached a peak at the second week and gradually descended from the sixth week. The GAP-43 protein expression showed the same laws as that of GAP-43 mRNA. The results demonstrated that there exists damage reactivity change in the regeneration ability of neurons.