Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2016, Vol. 11 ›› Issue (4): 657-663.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.180754

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Senegenin inhibits neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord contusion injury

Shu-quan Zhang1, Min-fei Wu2, Rui Gu3, Jia-bei Liu3, Ye Li3, Qing-san Zhu3, Jin-lan Jiang3, 4, *   

  1. 1 Department of Orthopedics, Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China
    2 Department of Orthopedics, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
    3 Department of Orthopedics, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
    4 Scientific Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China
  • Received:2015-12-22 Online:2016-04-30 Published:2016-04-30
  • Contact: Jin-lan Jiang, 3213767434@qq.com.
  • Supported by:

    This research was supported by a grant from the Science and Technology Development Plan of Jilin Province of China, No. 2011084.

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Abstract:

Senegenin has been shown to inhibit neuronal apoptosis, thereby exerting a neuroprotective effect. In the present study, we established a rat
model of spinal cord contusion injury using the modified Allen’s method. Three hours after injury, senegenin (30 mg/g) was injected into
the tail vein for 3 consecutive days. Senegenin reduced the size of syringomyelic cavities, and it substantially reduced the number of apoptotic
cells in the spinal cord. At the site of injury, Bax and Caspase-3 mRNA and protein levels were decreased by senegenin, while Bcl-2
mRNA and protein levels were increased. Nerve fiber density was increased in the spinal cord proximal to the brain, and hindlimb motor
function and electrophysiological properties of rat hindlimb were improved. Taken together, our results suggest that senegenin exerts a
neuroprotective effect by suppressing neuronal apoptosis at the site of spinal cord injury.

Key words: nerve regeneration, spinal cord contusion, senegenin, thinleaf milkwort root, motor function, apoptosis, electrophysiology, neural regeneration