Abstract: Objective To investigate the possibility of rolipram for treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods 30 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into sham-operation group (sham group, n=10), spinal cord injury group (SCI group, n=10) and rolipram treatment group (R group, n=10). The rats in SCI group and R group were modeled as spinal cord transection injury, and R group was administrated with rolipram subcutaneouly after SCI. They were assessed with Basso Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) score 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after SCI, and the expressions of growth associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected with immunohistochemistry 2 weeks after SCI. Results There were significant difference in the BBB scores between SCI and R groups 6 and 8 weeks after SCI (P<0.05). The expression of GAP-43 was more and GFAP was less in R group than in SCI group (P<0.05). Conclusion Rolipram can increase the expression of GAP-43 and inhibit the expression of GFAP, while improves the the motor function in rats after spinal cord transsection injury.

Key words: spinal cord injury, rolipram, motor function, growth associated protein 43, glial fibrillary acidic protein, rats