To determine whether olomoucine acts synergistically with bone morphogenetic protein-4 in the treatment of spinal cord injury, we established a rat model of acute spinal cord contusion by impacting the spinal cord at the T8 vertebra. We injected a suspension of astrocytes derived from glial-restricted precursor cells exposed to bone morphogenetic protein-4 （GDAsBMP） into the spinal cord around the site of the injury, and/or olomoucine intraperitoneally. Olomoucine effectively inhibited astrocyte proliferation and the formation of scar tissue at the injury site, but did not prevent proliferation of GDAsBMP or inhibit their effects in reducing the spinal cord lesion cavity. Furthermore, while GDAsBMP and olomoucine independently resulted in small improve- ments in locomotor function in injured rats, combined administration of both treatments had a significantly greater effect on the restoration of motor function. These data indicate that the combined use of olomoucine and GDAsBMP creates a better environment for nerve regeneration than the use of either treatment alone, and contributes to spinal cord repair after injury.
Background:Astrocytes become reactive following many types of CNS injuries.Excessive astrogliosis is detrimental and contributes to neuronal damage.We sought to determine whether inhibition of cell cycle could decrease the proliferation of astroglial cells and therefore reduce excessive gliosis and glial scar formation after focal ischemia.Methods:Cerebral infarction model was induced by photothrombosis method.Rats were examined using MRI,and lesion volumes were estimated on day 3 post-infarction.The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA) was observed by immunofluorescence staining.Protein levels for GFAP,PCNA,Cyclin A and Cyclin B1 were determined by Western blot analysis from the ischemic and sham animals sacrificed at 3,7,30 days after operation.Results:Cell cycle inhibitor olomoucine significantly suppressed GFAP and PCNA expression and reduced lesion volume after cerebral ischemia.In parallel studies,we found dense astroglial scar in boundary zone of vehicle-treated rats at 7 and 30 days.Olomoucine can markedly attenuate astroglial scar formation.Western blot analysis showed increased protein levels of GFAP,PCNA,Cyclin A and Cyclin B1 after ischemia,which was reduced by olomoucine treatment.Conclusion: Our results suggested that astroglial activation,proliferation and subsequently astroglial scar formation could be partially inhibited by regulation of cell cycle.Cell cycle modulation thereby provides a potential promising strategy to treat cerebral ischemia.
