Effects of hyperbaric oxygen on spinal bFGF expressions in rabbits with experimental decompression sickness

Objective To investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the expressions of basic fibroblast growth factor(bFGF) in rabbits with experimental decompression sickness (DCS). Methods Methods Rabbits were randomly divided into 7 groups; normal control group,DCS 3 h group,DCS 3 d group,HBO 3 h group, HBO 3 d group,normal oxygen hyperbaric nurogen(NOHN) 3 h group,NOHN 3 d group. Rabbit DCS model were included by quick decompression method. Immunohistochemical method was used to examine the bFGF expressions in thoracic spinal cord and in lumbar spinal cord. Results (1) The bFGF expressions in rabbit spinal cord would increase after quick decompression, but there were no differences in 3 h groups (P 0. 05). (2) The bFGF expression in DCS 3 d group was significantly higher than that of DCS 3 h group (P 0.01); compared with HBO 3 h group,the bFGF expression in the HBO 3 d group decreased significandy (P 0.01) ,and that in the NOHN 3 d group decreased (P 0.05). (3) The bFGF expression in HBO 3 d group and NOHN 3 d group was lower than that DCS 3 d group(P 0. 01) ,and that in HBO 3 d group was lower than that in NOHN 3 d group(P 0. 05). Conclusions Results Conclusions The bFGF expression in rabbit spinal cord would increase after DCS. Both HBO and NOHN can protect spinal cord injury after diving, and HBO was superior to NOHN .