Abstract:

Objective   To study the effects of zibu piyin recipe（ZBPYR）on the spinal cord injury （SCI）and the influence on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor（BDNF）. Methods   Ninety adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operated group, SCI group and ZBPYR group. The rats were killed at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 120h after the surgery. The combine behavioral score(CBS) was used to detect the recovery of the rats nervous system before being killed, and the expressions of BDNF mRNA and BDNF were detected with RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assay at different time points. Results   The CBS presented a remarkable decreasing trend in SCI and ZBPYR groups, and the difference between the two groups after 24h-post injury was statistically significant （P＜0.05）. BDNF and BDNF mRNA expressions in SCI and ZBPYR groups were up regulated significantly after 24h-postinjury and peaked at 120h-post injury, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant（P＜0.05）. Conclusion   ZBPYR could improve the neurons function through up regulating the expression of BDNF after SCI.

Key words: Spinal cord injuries; Zibu Piyin Recipe; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Immunohistochemistry; Reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction