目的 探究脊髓损伤后的认知、情绪改变以及脑内相关区域病理变化和内质网应激相关分子表达情况。方法 120只成年SD雌性大鼠分为损伤组和对照组(每组60只)。制备脊髓T10节段的Allen法打击损伤模型(打击力度20 g×25 mm),对照组只接受椎板切除术。BBB评分观察损伤后运动功能恢复情况,Morris水迷宫和高架十字迷宫分别检测大鼠学习记忆功能和情绪改变。尼氏染色观察大脑神经细胞形态数量,快速高尔基体染色检测海马区域树突棘密度。Western blot检测GRP78和Caspase-12蛋白在海马区域的表达变化。结果 高架十字迷宫检测损伤大鼠进入开臂次数明显减少,水迷宫空间探索测试结果显示损伤动物跨越平台次数明显下降(P〈0.05,P〈0.01)。尼氏染色和快速高尔基体染色结果显示大鼠皮质和海马区域神经元形态和数量异常,海马区域树突棘密度下降(P〈0.05,P〈0.01)。Western blot检测结果显示脊髓损伤后内质网应激相关蛋白GRP78表达上调(P〈0.05,P〈0.01)。结论 脊髓损伤后成年大鼠产生持续学习记忆能力下降,同时出现焦虑的情绪变化。这可能与脊髓损伤后海马和皮质区域发生的内质网应激引起海马与皮质区域神经细胞受损有关。
Objective To explore the changes of cognition and emotion, morphological alteration of related brain regions, and the expression of endoplasmic reticulum stress related molecules in rats after spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 120 adult SD female rats were randomly divided into the injury group and the control group (n=60 for each group). Spinal cord injury model was established by inflicting T10 segment against 20 g×25 mm combat strength as Allen method, while the rats of control group only received laminectomy. Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scores were used to observe the recovery of motor function after injury. The behavioral changes of rats were detected by Morris water maze and elevated plus maze test. The morphology of brain nerve cells and the density of dendritic spines were observed after the Nissl’s staining and FD staining. The expression of GRP78 and Caspase-12 protein in the hippocampus was detected by Western blotting. Results In overhead cross maze, the entries into open arms were significantly reduced in the rats after injury (P〈0.05), so was the number of the rats leaping over platform in the water maze test (P〈0.01). FD staining and Nissl’s staining displayed abnormal morphology and number of neurons in the cortex and hippocampus in rats after spinal cord injury, and the density of dendritic spines in the hippocampus was decreased (P〈0.05, P〈0.01). The results of Western blotting showed that endoplasmic reticulum stress related protein, GRP78WB, was up-regulated (P〈0.05). Conclusion Spinal cord injury results in declines in continuous learning and memory abilities in adult rats, and anxiety is observed at the same time. It may be related to the impairment of the hippocampus and cortical areas in the hippocampus and cortex induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress after spinal cord injury.