Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of Jisuikang on neural functional recovery, and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein and mRNA level after spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods 144 female Sprague-Dawley rats, weighted 180 to 220 g, were used for experiment. 24 rats were randomly extracted into sham group (Group A), which had their vertebral plates and spines bitten away only.The others were randomly divided into model group (Group B), prednison group (Group C), and high, middle and low doses of Jisuikang group (Groups D to F) after SCI, 24 rats in each group. Group C was given 0.06 g/(kg &#8901; d) prednison, and Groups D to F were given 50, 25 and 12.5 g/(kg &#8901;d) Jisuikang respectively, which were given 20 ml/(kg &#8901;d) volume by intragastric administration. Groups A and B were given the same volume of normal saline (NS). The Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scores and oblique board test were applied to test the postoperative results 24 hours, 3, 7 and 14 days after SCI. The rats were executed and the spinal cord tissues were extracted 3, 7 and 14 days after SCI. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RQ-PCR were applied to test the expression of protein and mRNA of BDNF. Results BBB scores and angle of oblique board test were significantly lower in Groups B to F than in Group A 24 hours after SCI (P<0.01). BBB scores were higher in both Groups C and E than in Group B 3 to 14 days after SCI (P<0.05), and was significantly higher in Group E than in the other groups 14 days after SCI (P<0.01). The results of immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed that the protein expression of BDNF were significantly higher in Groups C and E than in Group B at different time points in the injured area after SCI (P<0.01), while there was no significant difference between Groups C and E (P>0.05). The results of RQ-PCR showed that prednisone and Jisuikang promoted the expression of BDNF mRNA. Group C (prednisone) had a most obvious effect at the beginning while Group E was better than Group C 14 days after SCI. Conclusion Jisuikang can promote the neural functional recovery and the expression of BDNF on both protein and mRNA level in SCI rats.

Key words: spinal cord injury, Jisuikang, axonal regeneration, microenvironment, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, rats