Agmatine promotes expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in brainstem facial nucleus in the rat facial nerve injury model  

作　　者：Li Fang Wenlong Luo 

机构地区：[1]Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Chongqing400010, China

出　　处：《Neural Regeneration Research》2008年第6期618-620,共3页中国神经再生研究（英文版）

摘　　要：BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that agmatine can reduce inhibition of neuronal regeneration by increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the hippocampus of morphine-dependent rats. The hypothesis that agmatine exerts similar effects on facial nerve injury deserves further analysis. OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of peritoneal agmatine injection on BDNF levels in the rat brainstem after facial nerve injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A controlled animal experiment was performed at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences （Chongqing, China）, between October and December in 2007. MATERIALS： Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control, a lesion, and an agmatine treatment group, with eight rats in each group. Bilateral facial nerve anastomosis was induced in the lesion and agmatine treatment groups, while the control group remained untreated. A rat BDNF Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to measure BDNF levels in the brainstem facial nucleus. METHODS： Starting on the day of lesion, the agmatine group received a peritoneal injection of 100 mg/kg agmatine, once per day, for a week, whereas rats in the lesion group received saline injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： BDNF levels in the brainstem containing facial nucleus were measured by ELISA. RESULTS： Twenty-four rats were included in the final analysis without any loss. Two weeks after lesion, BDNF levels were significantly higher in the lesion group than in the control group （P 〈 0.01）. A significant increase was noted in the agmatine group compared to the lesion group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Agmatine can substantially increase BDNF levels in the rat brainstem after facial nerve injury.BACKGROUND： Studies have shown that agmatine can reduce inhibition of neuronal regeneration by increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate and brain-derived neurotrophic factor （BDNF） in the hippocampus of morphine-dependent rats. The hypothesis that agmatine exerts similar effects on facial nerve injury deserves further analysis. OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of peritoneal agmatine injection on BDNF levels in the rat brainstem after facial nerve injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A controlled animal experiment was performed at the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences （Chongqing, China）, between October and December in 2007. MATERIALS： Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control, a lesion, and an agmatine treatment group, with eight rats in each group. Bilateral facial nerve anastomosis was induced in the lesion and agmatine treatment groups, while the control group remained untreated. A rat BDNF Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to measure BDNF levels in the brainstem facial nucleus. METHODS： Starting on the day of lesion, the agmatine group received a peritoneal injection of 100 mg/kg agmatine, once per day, for a week, whereas rats in the lesion group received saline injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： BDNF levels in the brainstem containing facial nucleus were measured by ELISA. RESULTS： Twenty-four rats were included in the final analysis without any loss. Two weeks after lesion, BDNF levels were significantly higher in the lesion group than in the control group （P 〈 0.01）. A significant increase was noted in the agmatine group compared to the lesion group （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Agmatine can substantially increase BDNF levels in the rat brainstem after facial nerve injury.

关 键 词：AGMATINE facial nerve injury brain-derived neurotrophic factor ELISA 

分 类 号：R338[医药卫生—人体生理学]