目的旨在检测乙酰左旋肉碱(ALC)对大鼠急性脊髓损伤(SCI)后微管相关蛋白1 轻链3(LC3)-Ⅱ、细胞凋亡及运动功能的影响。方法成年雌性Sprague-Dawley 大鼠36 只随机分为假手术组(Sham 组)、单纯脊髓损伤组(SCI 组)、ALC治疗组,每组12 只。Allen 法建立大鼠T10脊髓损伤模型。损伤后3 d 行BBB运动评分;取脊髓组织,Western blotting 和免疫荧光标记技术检测LC3-Ⅱ表达,TUNEL 法观察细胞凋亡。结果与Sham 组相比,SCI 组LC3-Ⅱ明显升高(P<0.01),细胞凋亡显著增加(P<0.001),BBB评分显著降低(P<0.001);与SCI组相比,ALC组LC3-Ⅱ显著升高(P<0.001),细胞凋亡显著降低(P<0.001),BBB评分明显提高(P<0.01)。结论ALC可能通过增强大鼠脊髓损伤后细胞自噬,减少细胞凋亡,促进大鼠运动功能恢复。
Objective To observe the effects of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) on autophagy, apoptosis and motor function after acute spinal cord injury (ASCI) in rats. Methods Thirty-six adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham group, n=12), simple spinal cord injury group (SCI group, n=12), ALC treatment group (ALC group, n=12). Spinal cord injury model at the level of T10 segment was established using Allen's method. They were assessed with Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan (BBB) scale three days after injury. Then the rats were sacrificed, and the expression of microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) -II in spinal cord was detected with Western blotting and immunofluorescent labeling, and the number of apoptotic cells were assessed with TUNEL staining. Results The expression of LC3-II and the number of apoptotic cells increased in SCI group compared with those in Sham group (P<0.01), while the BBB score decreased (P<0.001). The expression of LC3-II increased and the number of apoptotic cells decreased in ALC group compared with those in SCI group (P<0.001), while the BBB score increased (P<0.01). Conclusion ALC may promote autophagy, and inhibit apoptosis to improve the locomotor function after ASCI.