Study of gene expression of TNF-α in the ligamentum flavum of early cervical dynamic imbalance.

[Objective]To study the implication of TNF-α gene expression in cervical ligamentum flavum of dynamic unstable rats. [Methods]Rat models of cervial spine dynamic imbanlance were established by removal of cervical muscles.Total RNA was prepared from the ligamentum flavum of the experimental segments of different groups and the expression of TNF-α was detected at different time points by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction using specific primers.[Results]The gene expression in group A(removal group) was greatly higher than those in both stripping and control groups,especially at 3,5 and 15 days after operation.It was decreased at 30 and 60 days.[Conclusion]The expression of TNF-α was enhanced by the dynamic imbanlance of cercical spine,which may accelerate the degeneration of the ligamentum flavum.