Objective:

2

To investigate whether Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD) had a good curative effect on the neuroprotection of red nucleus neurons after spinal cord injury (SCI) and the possible molecular mechanism.

Methods:

2

Ni

nety male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (

n

=18 per group) according to a random number table

including the control

model

low- (12.78 g/kg

BL group)

medium- (25.65 g/kg

BM group)

and high-dose BYHWD groups (51.30 g/kg

BH group). A rubrospinal tract transection model in rats was established

and different doses of BYHWD were intragastrically administrated for 4 weeks. The forelimb locomotor function was recorded using the spontaneous vertical exploration test. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level in red nucleus was detected through an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The morphology and number of red nucleus neurons were observed using Nissl's staining and axonal retrograde tracing by Fluoro-Gold (FG). The expression of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)

nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65

and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in red nucleus were detected using immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

2

Compared with the control group

the utilization rate of bilateral forelimbs

unilateral right forelimbs

proportion of FG-labeled positive neurons

cAMP level

protein expressions of PKA and BDNF

and BDNF mRNA expression were significantly decreased in the model group (

P

<

0.01)

while NF-κB p65 was increased in the model group (

P

<

0.01). Compared with the model group

the utilization rate of bilateral forelimbs and unilateral right forelimbs were significantly higher in the BL

BM and BH groups (

P

<

0.01)

the proportion of FG-labeled positive neurons

cAMP level

protein expressions of PKA and BDNF and BDNF mRNA expression in all BYHWD groups were increased (

P

<

0.05 or

P

<

0.01)

while NF-κB p65 were decreased in all BYHWD groups (

P

<

0.05 or

P

<

0.01).

Conclusions:

2

BYHWD possesses a sound neuroprotective effect on red nucleus neurons after SCI

and the efficacy was dose-related. The mechanism may be related to regulating the cAMP/PKA/NF-κ B p65 signaling pathway

finally promoting expression of BDNF.