The study on the apoptosis of nerve cells of spinal cord of rat following unilaterals sciatic nerve transection

AIM: To study the apoptotic nerve cells on spinal cord of the rat following unilaterals sciatic nerve transection. METHODS: Using the method of TdT mediated dUTP- fluorescein nick end labelling, to identification the apoptotic nerve cells in seventh waist segment. RESULTS: The apoptotic neuroglia cells in the in dorsal horn of spinal cord came forth after the first day of sciatic never transection and it come to maximate on second day, glial cells in the whiter matter also had occurrence apoptosis. The apoptotic index of neurons in dorsal horn of spinal cord was bigger than neurons in the front horn spinal cord. CONCLUSION: It suggest that there is an occurrence apoptosis in spinal cord following sciatic nerve axotomy with the neuroglia and neuronal cells loss on 1 day. The apoptosis of afferent neurons are bigger than the apoptosis of efferent neurons, Neuroglia cells apoptosis may play a great action in the course of apoptosis of the spinal cord.