Nuclear factor kappa B,Bcl-2 and Bax in limb function after acute spinal cord compression injury

Objective To investigate the relationship of nuclear factor kappa B(NF-κB),Bcl-2 and Bax with limb function after acute spinal cord injury in rats. Methods Forty-eight rats were divided at random into a control group and an experimental group with 24 rats in each.The spinal cords of the rats in the experimental group were injured at the T8,9,10 level through moderate compression.Four hours,8 h,and 1,3,7 and 14 days after the injury,4 rats were selected randomly from each group and graded with a BBB score.They were then sacrificed and their spinal cords were collected.Immunohistochemical measurements were used to observe the expression of NF-κB, Bcl-2 and Bax. Results NF-κB,Bcl-2 and Bax were observed in the injured spinal nerve cells of rats in the exper imental group but were absent in the control group.After injury,the expression of these factors increased at first and then decreased.BBB scores for limb function increased gradually.No correlation was found between the changes in NF-κB and Bcl-2,but the expression of NF-κB was positively correlated with that of Bax.There was negative correla tion between NF-kB levels and BBB scores,and between NF-kB levels and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax. Conclusion In rats,there is a close negative correlation between NF-kappa B levels,the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and limb function after acute spinaI cord iujury. Key words: Spinal cord injury;  Nuclear factor kappa B;  Apoptosis;  Bcl-2;  Bax; Limb function