Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2013, Vol. 8 ›› Issue (30): 2838-2848.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2013.30.006

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Valproic acid protects neurons and promotes neuronal regeneration after brachial plexus avulsion

Qiang Li1, Dianxiu Wu1, Rui Li1, Xiaojuan Zhu2, Shusen Cui1   

  1. 1 Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China
    2 Key Laboratory of Molecular Epigenetics of Ministry of Education, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130000, Jilin Province, China
  • Received:2013-06-13 Revised:2013-08-29 Online:2013-10-25 Published:2013-10-25
  • Contact: Rui Li, M.D., Professor, Chief physician, Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China, 13304321102 @qq.com. Shusen Cui, Professor, Doctoral supervisor, Department of Hand Surgery, China Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130033, Jilin Province, China, sscui916@126.com.
  • About author:Qiang Li, M.D., Attending physician. Qiang Li and Dianxiu Wu contributed equally to this work.
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by Graduated Innovation Fund of Jilin University, No. 20121115; the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30872626; Key Projects of Clinical Sciences by the Ministry of Health, No. 439; and the Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education, No. 20070183143

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Abstract:

Valproic acid has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects and promote neurite outgrowth in several peripheral nerve injury models. However, whether valproic acid can exert its beneficial effect on neurons after brachial plexus avulsion injury is currently unknown. In this study, brachial plexus root avulsion models, established in Wistar rats, were administered daily with valproic acid dis-solved in drinking water (300 mg/kg) or normal water. On days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14 and 28 after avulsion injury, tissues of the C5–T1 spinal cord segments of the avulsion injured side were harvested to in-vestigate the expression of Bcl-2, c-Jun and growth associated protein 43 by real-time PCR and western blot assay. Results showed that valproic acid significantly increased the expression of Bcl-2 and growth associated protein 43, and reduced the c-Jun expression after brachial plexus avulsion. Our findings indicate that valproic acid can protect neurons in the spinal cord and enhance neuronal regeneration following brachial plexus root avulsion.

Key words: neural regeneration, peripheral nerve injury, brachial plexus root avulsion, spinal cord, neurons, valproic acid, neuroprotection, neuronal regeneration, Bcl-2, c-Jun, GAP-43, grants-supported pa-per, neuroregeneration