Protective effect of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor injected into cavitas subarachnoidealis on spinal front corner motor neurons

Objective To investigate the effect of exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) infused into the cavitas subarachnoidealis on spinal front corner motor neurons after sciatic nerve axotomy. Methods Forty-eight healthy SD rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:NS group and GDNF group.The left sciatic nerve in rats were cut off. And then 0.9% saline and GDNF solution were injected into cavitas subarachnoidealis at L4-6 in NS group and GDNF group,respectively.At first sciatic function index(SFI)was detected at weeks 2,4,8,respectively.The specimen of L4-6 spinal cord were taken and sectioned at different times.The cholinesterase(ChE)and acid phosphatase(ACP)in motor neurons were stained and analyzed by image analysis software for evaluating the condition of motor neurons. Results In GDNF group,ChE was significantly higher than in NS group,while ACP was lower than in NS group.SFI was higher in GDNF group than in NS group. Conclusion The exogenous GDNF infused into the cavitas subarachnoidealis could protect the degenerated spinal motor neuron from death after sciatic nerve injury.