The change of neurotrophin 3 in spinal motor neurons following sciatic nerve lesion in rats

Objective:To study the change of neurotrophin 3(NT-3) in the spinal motor neuron and the association between it and the degree of degeneration and death in spinal motor neuron following sciatic nerve lesion in the rats.Methods:The sciatic nerve lesion was induced with cutting and removing part of the sciatic nerve in the adult and 3 days of age rats.The rats were allowed to survive for 3,7,14,21,28 days.The extent of spinal motor neuron death and degeneration was examined,the level of NT-3 in spinal motor neuron were measured with image analysis.Results:The level of NT-3 in spinal motor neuron in suckling and adult rat groap was significant reduced following sciatic nerve lesion,and it was lowest in the second week after sciatic nerve lesion.The level of NT-3 in spinal motor neuron in the 28th day following sciatic nerve lesion did not increase to it of the control.The change of spinal motor neuron death and degeneration was similar to the change of the level of NT-3.The level of NT-3 in spinal motor neuron in suckling rat was highter than it in adult rat. Conclusion:The level of NT-3 in spinal motor neurons would take change following sciatic nerve lesion,and the death and degeneration of spinal motor neuron may be induced by the peripheral nerve lesion,The level of NT-3 in spinal motor neuron was negative with the extent of spinal motor neuron death and degeneration.