Objective: To investigate the protective effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) on spinal motor neurons after peripheral nerve injury.
Methods: Twenty Wistar rats were divided into two groups, the right sciatic nerves of 20 Wistar rats were transected, the proximal stumps were inserted into a single blind silicone tube. 16 microliters of normal saline(NS) and TNF-alpha(30 U/ml) were injected into the silicone tubes. After 2 weeks, the 4th, 5th lumbar spinal cord were taken for examination. Enzyme histochemical technique and image analysis were used to show acetylcholinesterase(AChE) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) activity of spinal motor neurons.
Results: The number of AChE and NOS staining neurons were 8.65 +/- 1.98 and 5.92 +/- 1.36 in the experimental group and 6.37 +/- 1.42 and 8.67 +/- 1.45 in the control group respectively, there were significant difference between the two groups(P < 0.01).
Conclusion: It suggests that TNF-alpha has protective effect on motor neurons after peripheral nerve injury.