Change and expression of phospho-Erk1/2 in rat DRG after sciatic nerve transection

Objective To investigate the expression changes of phospho-Erk1/2 in rat Dorsal root ganglion after sciatic nerve transaction.Methods Adult male waster rats were randomly divided into the normal control pseudo-group and the experimental operation-group.In the operation-group,the right sciatic nerve was transected and survived for 1,2,4,6 and 8 weeks after operation.The changes in the expression of p-Erk1/2 in L4-5 DRG were detected by western blot and immunohistochemical methods.Results In Pseudo-operation group p-ERK1/2 only has a small amount of expression and maintain a certain level in dorsal root ganglion.In the experimental operation-group,p-ERK1/2 expression has increased and reached the peak in 1 week after sciatic nerve transaction.The p-ERK1/2 expression began to decrease at 2 weeks.The expression was back to the normal level at 8 weeks.Conclusion Sciatic nerve transaction is likely to activate MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway which can control apoptosis of Dorsal root ganglion.