Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-mRNA in the rats′spinal cord continuous compression injury

Objective To investigate the expression changes and effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in rats′spinal cord in different phases of spinal cord continuous compression injury development. Methods The spinal cord continuous compression injury model was made by compression to the posterior spinal cord using a blunt plastic screw. Sixty Wistar male rats were randomly divided into compression group and control operative group. Changes in the behavior and limb function experimental rats were observed. The expression changes of VEGF-mRNA was detected through in situ hybridization methods. The VEGF-mRNA positive cells were quantitatively analyzed by a computer image analysis system. Results The limb function of experimental rats significantly weakened,further deteriorated at 2 d group,and slightly recovered after 1 week.The expression of VEGF-mRNA was not detected in control operation group,but significantly increased at 1 d(P0.01) and peaked at 2 d in the compression group. Then,it decreased significantly at 1 week (P0.05),and disappeared at 3 weeks. Conclusions VEGF gene expression might play a role in neuronal protection and repair following spinal cord continuous compression injury.