Effect of aminoguandinine on the expression of iNOS after spinal cord injury

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism of aminoguandinine (AG) on the expression of iNOS.Methods The animal model of spinal cord injury by Nystrom's method (hammer weigh 35?g for 10 min)was established.The changes of the expression and activity of iNOS protein after spinal cord injury and after administration of AG were detected by using immunohistochemical stain and isotope labeling assay in rats.Results The expression of iNOS was not detectable in the experimental group without spinal cord injury,while it was upregulated after spinal cord injury and was postively correlated with the time following injury.Twenty four h after spinal cord injury,iNOS protein expression and activity was 22.60±2.36 and 0.97±0.07 respectively.The levels of iNOS expression and activity (17.40± 2.07 and 0.52±0.03 respectively,P0.01) were significantly decreased after using AG.Conclusion iNOS is an important factor influencing neurological function in spinal cord injury.AG can be used to obviously inhibit the high expression of iNOS after spinal cord injury and lessen its damage to nerve tissue.