Objective To investigate the expression of NG2, Neurocan and glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) after spinal cord injury. Methods Thirty-two female SD rats were randomly divided into two groups, namely blank control group and model group. In the blank control group, only T10 total lamina and T9 and T11 partial lamina were incised, and no further treatment was performed on the spinal cord. Spinal cord transection was used to model spinal cord injury in the model group. The expressions of NG2, Neurocan and GFAP were detected by immunohistochemical staining at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after spinal cord injury. Results NG2 was low in the blank control group at each time point. In the model group, the expression of NG2 was significantly increased 3 days after spinal cord injury, and reached its peak at 7 days. At 14 and 28 days, the expression of NG2 was still at a high level, but slightly decreased compared with that at 7 days. The expression of Neurocan was lower in the blank control group at all time points. Neurocan expression was significantly increased 3 to 7 days after spinal cord injury in the model group and reached its peak at 14 days. The expression of Neurocan began to decrease gradually from 14 days after spinal cord injury. The expression of GFAP at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days in the model group was significantly higher than that in the blank control group (all P<0.05, with statistical difference). In the model group, GFAP expression was significantly increased 3 days after spinal cord injury, and reached its peak at 14 days. Conclusion Increased expression of NG2, Neurocan and GFAP after spinal cord injury may be part of the mechanisms that inhibit axonal regeneration. |