Experimental study of the effects of Galectin-1 on proliferation of ependymal region cells in injured spinal cord of adult rats

English Keywords:Spinal cord injury  Ependymal cell  Galectin-1  Neural stem cell  Rat

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To observe the effects of Galectin-1 on the proliferation of cells in the ependymal region of injured spinal cord in adult rats, and to provide a theoretical basis for further study of endogenous neural stem cells in repairment of the injured spinal cord. Methods: 72 healthy female SD rats, with age of 1.5 months and body weight of 190-220g, were divided into sham group(group A), model group(group B), and intervention group(group C). For the later two groups, spinal cord injury models were established on T10, and for the sham group, only laminectomy was performed. The rats in treatment intervention group received subarachnoid injection of single dose of 20μl（0.2g/L） Galectin-1 24h after injury; the remaining two groups were only given normal saline. Neurological function recovery of the hindlimbs was evaluated using the BBB score 1 day and 7 days after injury, and the expression of BrdU positive cells and Nestin positive cells in spinal cord ependymal zone were detected using immunohistochemical method 7 days after injury. Results: The BBB score of group A was 21.00±0.00 one day after injury. The score of group B（1.65±0.05） showed no significant difference(P>0.05) from that of group C（1.59±0.14） one day after injury. The BBB scores of group C（12.98±0.15） and B（6.38±0.21） were significantly different(P<0.05) from that of group A（21.00±0.00） 7 days after injury; and the result was not significantly different between group C and B(P<0.05). 7 days after surgery, very little amount of BrdU positive cells(0.02±0.01) and Nestin positive cells(0.01±0.00) was found in group A; while the amount of BrdU positive cells(0.41±0.14) and Nestin positive cells(0.35±0.13) in group B were abundant and significantly increased(P<0.05); Increase in the amount of BrdU positive cells(1.02±0.25) and Nestin positive cells(0.88±0.20) in spinal cord ependymal zone in group C was significantly higher than group B(P<0.05). 7d after operation, the BrdU and Nestin integral optical density value in group A were 17.12±3.47 and 10.59±2.11 respectively, group B(32.43±4.96, 4.96±7.43) and group C(45.11±6.01, 6.01±5.29) had higher value than group A(P<0.05), and group C was higher than group B(P<0.05). Conclusions： Cells in ependymal area of spinal cord display the potential of proliferation and neural differentiation after injury in rats. Galectin-1 promotes the proliferation and neural differentiation of the cells in this area.