The pattern and significance of tau protein expression of Wistar rats after spinal cord injury

Objective: To investigate dynamic expression of tau protein and its significance of spinal cord tissue of Wistar rats after acute spinal cord injury. Method: 56 Wistar rats of either sex were randomly divided into two groups, one group was prepared using a modified Alleninto acute spinal cord injury model, thatis, as surgery group(48); the other group was served as a control group(control group, only to open the lamina, does not damage the spinal cord tissue n=8). We removed injured spinal cord tissue under T10and some T9, T11laminectomy in 12h, 1d, 3d, 5d, 7d, 10d respectively and produced paraffin blocks and slices. HEstaining and Immunohistochemical methods were used to determinate the expression of tau protein in injured spinal cord tissue. Results: Tau positive expression was appeared in injured spinal cord tissue after acute spinal cord injury on Wistar rats. The positive expression of Tau protein increased gradually as time went by; and reached the maximum value after 3d injury. The expression continued to show positive after 10d and still higher than the control group.Conclusion: The tau protein expression was significantly increased in spinal cord tissue after it was damaged, and there are some changes on the relationship at different points in time, which provides a theoretical basis for early intervention after acute spinal cord injury.