The effect of tetramethylpyrazine on the expression of NF-κB and I-κBα after acute spinal cord injury in the rat model

Objective To study the effect of Teramethylpyrazine(TMP) on expression of NF-κB and I-κBα in acute spinal cord injury(ASCI) in rats.Methods Allen'S weight drop method was used to establish acute spinal cord injury(SCI) rat model at T10 section and was conducted in 110 adult Sprague Dawley rats that were subsequently divided into sham operation group(group S,n=10);control group(group C,n=50);Tramethylpyrazine group(group T,n=50).The function of spinal cord was evaluated with animal behavioral scores by measuring modified Rivilin loxotic plate test and counting BBB and CBS score at 1,3,5,7,14 and 21 days postoperatively.The injured spinal cord samples were harvested at 1,3,6,12 hours,1,3,5,7,14 and 21 days postoperatively(n=5 for each time point) for the preparation of continuous histological sections that were analyzed the expression of NF-κB and I-κBα by immunohistochemistry method.Results Group T had significantly higher degrees than group C at 7,14 and 21 days in modified Rivlin loxotic plate test after SCI(P0.05);Group T had significantly higher scores in BBB score than group C at 5,7,14 and 21 days after SCI respectively(P0.05).Group C had significantly higher scores in CBS score than group T at 5,7,14 and 21 days after SCI respectively(P0.05).The number of NF-κB positive cells were significantly lower in group T than group C at 1,3,5 and 7 days after SCI(P0.05);The number of I-κBα positive cells were significantly lower in group C than group T at 1,3,5 and 7 days after SCI(P0.05).Conclusions The TMP can promote repairing of injured spinal cord tissue through improving the I-κBα expression and decreasing the NF-κB expressions in cells after ASCI.