Expressions of C-jun and HSP70 in injured spinal cord tissues of rats and interference effects of methylprednisolone

AIM: To discuss the expressions of C-jun and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in injured spinal cord tissues of rats and the interference effects of methylprednisolone (MP). METHODS: Fourty-eight female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to MP and normal saline (NS) groups. The acute spinal cord injury models were made by Allen's method.We observed the expressions of C-jun and HSP70 in each group 1, 3, 6 h, 1, 2 and 3 d after injury. RESULTS: Positive expressions of C-jun and HSP70 were found in the injured spinal cord tissues of NS and MP groups. The expression of C-jun increased after acute spinal cord injury, reached the top at 3 h. The expression of C-jun in MP group 1, 3, and 6 h after injury was lower than that in NS group with statistically significant difference (P0.05). There was no obvious difference between the 2 groups 1, 2 and 3 d after injury. The expression of HSP70 increased after acute spinal cord injury, and get to the maximum at 1 d. The expression of HSP70 in MP group 6 h, 1, and 2 d after injury was higher than that in NS group with statistically significant difference (P0.05). There was no obvious difference between the 2 groups 1, 3 h and 3 d after injury. There was fewer expression in control groups. CONCLUSION: Positive expressions of C-jun and HSP70 were found in the injured spinal cord tissues. MP can restrain the expression of risk factor (C-jun protein), and promote the expression of protective factor (HSP70). Therefore, MP can relieve secondary spinal cord injury.