Chondroitinase ABC promotes axonal regeneration and functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats

Objective To explore the effects of chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) on the functional recovery and axonal regeneration of transected spinal cord in rats. Methods SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups:normal group,control group(SCI+NS) and experimental group(SCI+ChABC). The transverse injury models were made beteen the spinal cord of T7 and T8. Immunohistochemistry of OBT,GFAP,NSE and NF were adopted to assess the functional recovery and axonal regeneration in rats at 2 weeks and 10 weeks after operation. Behavioral evaluation was performed at 1,2,3,4,5,6,8 and 10 weeks after operation. Results There was an apparent increase of behavioral scores in experimental group compared with control group at 3 weeks after operation (P0.05). OBT and GFAP expression in experimental group decreased significantly than those in control group while NSE and NF expression in experimental group increased significantly than those in control group(P0.05). Conclusion ChABC can reduce CSPGs activity at the injury sites. Therefore,it can promote the recovery of motor and sensory function as well as the axonal regeneration.