Metallothionein molecules in sciatic nerve injury and repair

Abstract:Background and purpose: Peripheral nerve injury induces oxidative stress in lesioned neurons. Antioxidants remove excess free radicals and participate in nerve repair. In this study, we assessed the antioxidative role of the metallothionein ۱&۲ molecules in sciatic nerve repair in rats. Materials and methods: The sciatic nerves of ۴۰ rats were crushed and the total mRNA of samples from day ۱ and ۳ and week ۱, ۳, ۵ post injury was extracted. The expression of the MT-۱&۲ genes was confirmed by RT-PCR. For immunohistochemistry analysis, the samples were fixed in paraformaldehyde and cut in ۲۰ micrometer slices by cryostat.Results: The expression of MT-۱&۲ significantly up-regulated in day ۱ and ۳ following the crushing of sciatic nerves in comparison with the intact nerves. Immunohistochemistry results also confirmed the protein expression of MT-۱.Conclusion: The metallothionein molecules showed up-regulation in the degeneration process after nerve injury, so it may play an important role in nerve repair. Abstract: Background and purpose: Peripheral nerve injury induces oxidative stress in lesioned neurons. Antioxidants remove excess free radicals and participate in nerve repair. In this study, we assessed the antioxidative role of the metallothionein ۱&۲ molecules in sciatic nerve repair in rats. Materials and methods: The sciatic nerves of ۴۰ rats were crushed and the total mRNA of samples from day ۱ and ۳ and week ۱, ۳, ۵ post injury was extracted. The expression of the MT-۱&۲ genes was confirmed by RT-PCR. For immunohistochemistry analysis, the samples were fixed in paraformaldehyde and cut in ۲۰ micrometer slices by cryostat. Results: The expression of MT-۱&۲ significantly up-regulated in day ۱ and ۳ following the crushing of sciatic nerves in comparison with the intact nerves. Immunohistochemistry results also confirmed the protein expression of MT-۱. Conclusion: The metallothionein molecules showed up-regulation in the degeneration process after nerve injury, so it may play an important role in nerve repair.

کلیدواژه ها:

Metallothionein ۱ & ۲ ، oxidative stress ، Crush injury ، peripheral nerve