Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 Gene and Protein in Rat Injuried Spinal Cord

Objective To study the temporal and spatial expression patterns of the COX-2 gene and protein levels in the spinal cord after compression injury.Methods lschemic injury of spinal cord in rats was induced with Nystrom s compression method.The expression and distribution of COX-2mRNA and protein in adult Wistar rat spinal cord were studied by RT-PCR and Western blotting and immunohistochemical method at different injuried times(30min,3h,6h, 24h,72h,1w).Results RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that expression of COX-2 gene and protein in the spinal cord increased within 30 min,peaked at 6h,approached basal level 1 week after injury of the spinal cord. Immunohistochemicai staining result revealed that COX-2 immunoreactivity was present only in endothelial cells of blood vessels in sham operated rat spinal cord,but also found in neurons and endothelial cells of blood vessels around lesion area with less immunoreactive positive cells in the lesion core in injuried spinal cord.Conclusion Upregulation of COX-2 gene and protein synthesis occured quickly at early phase after spinal cord compression injury,with more expression in neurons and endothelial cells of blood vessels after spinal cord injury.