Project description:To investigate the mechanism of electrical stimulation in the repair of spinal cord injury, we established a rat model of spinal cord injury. Then, we used RNA-SEQ data obtained from ES treatment and 6 different rat models of spinal cord injury for gene expression profile analysis.
Project description:The aneurysm clip impact-compression model of spinal cord injury (SCI) in animals mimics the primary mechanism of SCI in human, i.e. acute impact and persisting compression; and its histo-pathological and behavioural outcomes are extensively similar to the human SCI. In order to understand the distinct molecular events underlying this injury model, an analysis of global gene expression of the acute, subacute and chronic stages of a moderate to severe injury to the rat spinal cord was conducted using a microarray gene chip approach. Rat thoracic spinal cord (T7) was injured using aneurysm clip impact-compression injury model and the epicenter area of injured spinal cord was isolated for RNA extraction and processing and hybridization on Affymetrix GeneChip arrays.
Project description:Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to loss of locomotor function. Neuroplasticity of spinal circuitry underlies some functional recovery and therefore represents a therapeutic target to improve locomotor function following SCI. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating neuroplasticity below the lesion level are not fully understood. The present study performed a gene expression profiling in the rat lumbar spinal cord at 1 and 3 weeks after contusive SCI at T9 compared to control rat that received sham injury (laminectomy). The below-level gene expression profiles were compared with those of animals that were subjected to treadmill locomotor training. Rat lumbar spinal cords were taken for the microarray analysis at 1 and 3 weeks after contusive spinal cord injury at the T9 level. Another group of rats received treadmill locomotor training for 3 weeks, and theirs spinal cords were harvested for the microarray. The changes in gene expression after spinal cord injury were analyzed at the two time points. The influence of treadmill locomotor training was evaluated by comparing gene expression profiles between animals with or without treadmill training.
Project description:The goal of this study is to elucidate the influence of hemisection injury at thoracic spinal cord (T9) and epidural electrical spinal stimulation (L2-S1) on transcriptome of injured thoracic spinal cord. mRNA profiles of spinal cord at 5 days-post injury with or without epidural electrical spinal stimulation (L2-S1) and before injury were generated. Our study represents the detailed analysis of transcriptomes of injured spinal cord with biologic replicates, generated by RNA-seq technology.
Project description:To further explore the expression of circRNA, lncRNA and mRNA in mice with spinal cord contusion injury, we have employed microarray analysis as a discovery platform to identify circRNAs and lncRNAs with the potential to play role in the pathophysiology process of secondary injuryd after spinal cord injury. Three days after spinal cord injuryI, eight mice (SCI group, n=4; sham group, n=4) were anesthetized and the T9-T10 spinal cord segments centered on and enclosing the injured site were collected. And then total RNA was extracted and used for microarray detection. Four circRNAs from the top 30 differently expressed circRNAs were selected for real-time PCR. The expression patterns of these circRNAs were consistent with the microarray data validating the expression pattern observed by microarray analysis.
Project description:To investigate the role of DNA methylation in modulating chronic neuropathic pain (NPP), and identify possible target genes of DNA methylation involved in this process. The chronic constriction injury (CCI) induced NPP model was used. The Arraystar Rat RefSeq Promoter Arrays were used to identify the methylation profiles at the genome-wide level in the DNA promoter regions of the lumbar spinal cord in rats 14 Days following CCI surgery. The underlying genes with differential methylation were then identified and submitted to Gene Ontology and pathway analysis. Methyl-DNA immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR (MeDIP-qPCR) and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT‒qPCR) were used to confirm gene methylation and expression.
Project description:Spinal cord injury leads to impaired motor and sensory functions. After spinal cord injury there is a an initial phase of hypo-reflexia followed by a developing hyper-reflexia, often termed spasticity. Previous studies have suggested a relationship between the reappearence of plateau potentials in motor neurons and the development of spasticity after spinalization. To understand the molecular mechanism behind this phenomenon we examined the transcriptional response of the motor neurons after spinal cord injury. We used a rat tail injury model where a complete transection of the caudal (S2) rat spinal cord leads to an immidate flaccid paralysis of the tail and a subsequent appearence of spasticity 2-3 weeks post injury that develops into strong spasticity after 2 months. Gene expression changes were studied in motor neurons 21 and 60 days after complete spinal transection where the tail exhibits clear signs of spasticity. Tail MNs were retorgradely labelled with flourogold injected into the muscle and intra peritoneally. 5-7 days after tracer injections the spinal cord was dissected out, snab frozen in liquid nitrogen, sliced in 10 um thick slices and fluorescent motor neurons were laser dissected into a collector tube to a total of ca. 50-200 cells pr sample. RNA was then extracted, two round amplified and hybridized to Affymetrix rat 230 2.0 arays. 27 samples were hybridized onto chips, 8 Spi-21, 8 Spi-60, 6 ShamC-21 and 5 ShamC-60.
Project description:Spinal cord injury leads to impaired motor and sensory functions. After spinal cord injury there is a an initial phase of hypo-reflexia followed by a developing hyper-reflexia, often termed spasticity. Previous studies have suggested a relationship between the reappearance of plateau potentials in motor neurons and the development of spasticity after spinalization. To understand the molecular mechanism behind this phenomena we examined the transcriptional response of the motor neurons after spinal cord injury as it progress over time. We used a rat tail injury model where a complete transection of the caudal (S2) rat spinal cord leads to an immediate flaccid paralysis of the tail and a subsequent appearance of spasticity 2-3 weeks post injury that develops into strong spasticity after 2 months. Gene expression changes were studied in motor neurones 0, 2, 7, 21 and 60 days after complete spinal transection. Tail MNs were retrogradely labelled with Fluoro-Gold injected into the muscle and intra peritoneally. 5-7 days after tracer injections the spinal cord was dissected out, snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen, sliced in 10 um thick slices and fluorescent motor neurons were laser dissected into a collector tube to a total of ca. 50-200 cells pr sample. RNA was then extracted, two round amplified and hybridized to Affymetrix rat 230 2.0 arays. 31 samples were hybridized onto chips, 4 Spi-0 (Control), 6 Spi-2, 5 Spi-7, 8 Spi-21 and 8 Spi-60.
Project description:The goal of this study is to elucidate the influence of hemisection injury at thoracic spinal cord (T9) on the transcriptome of the lower lumbar spinal cord at acute phase. mRNA profiles of spinal cord at 4 days-post injury and before injury were generated. 72 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) were observed. Our study represents the detailed analysis of transcriptomes of spinal cord distal to the hemisected lesion at acute phase, with biologic replicates, generated by RNA-seq technology.