Detection of Ca^(2+)-dependent acid phosphatase activity identifies neuronal integrity in damaged rat central nervous system after application of bacterial melanin

The study aims to confirm the neuroregenerative effects of bacterial melanin （BM） on central nervous system injury using a special staining method based on the detection of Ca^2＋-dependent acid phosphatase activity. Twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to undergo either unilateral destruction of sensorimotor cortex （group I; n = 12） or unilateral rubrospinal tract transection at the cervical level （C3-4） （group II; n = 12）. In each group, six rats were randomly selected after surgery to undergo intramuscular injection of BM solution （BM subgroup） and the remaining six rats were intramuscularly in）ected with saline （saline subgroup）. Neurological testing confirmed that BM accelerated the recovery of motor function in rats from both BM and saline subgroups. Two months after surgery, Ca^2＋-dependent acid phosphatase activity detection in combination with Chilingarian＇s calcium adenoside triphosphate method revealed that BM stimulated the sprouting of fibers and dilated the capillaries in the brain and spinal cord. These results suggest that BM can promote the recovery of motor function of rats with central nervous system injury; and detection of Ca^2＋-dependent acid phosphatase activity is a fast and easy method used to study the regeneration-promoting effects of BM on the injured central nervous system.

Establishment and Evaluation of a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury with the Pathopattern of Qi-Deficiency and Blood-Stasis in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Objective To establish a rat model of Spinal Cord Injury(SCI)with the pathopattern of Qi-deficiency and Blood-stasis(QDBS)in Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM),and then assess its feasibility.Methods Swimming exhaustion method and Rubrospinal Tract(RST)transection were combined to establish arat model of SCI with pathopattern of QDBS in TCM.Macroscopic representation,including the body weight,food intake and tongue scores,was recorded.Behavioristics was scored with spontaneous vertical exploration test.Hemorrheology was analyzed using hemorheological analyzer and morphology of spinal cord was observed.The feasibility of the model was confirmed on the basis of the reversion caused by administration of Bu Yang Huan Wu Decoction(BYHWD).Results The findings in the QDBS group were consistent with the symptoms of QDBS syndrome,including reduced body weight,food intake,and forelimb utilization rate and increased tongue scores.However,the corresponding findings in the BYHWD group were superior to those in the QDBS group after35d(P<0.05).In comparison with the control group,the QDBS group showed higher whole blood viscosity and hematocrit values(P<0.05)and a lower red blood cell(RBC)deformability index(P<0.05),while the corresponding findings in the BYHWD group were close to those in the control group.An eminence or induration appeared in the injured spinal cord,which was suspected to be vacuoles or a scar.Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the R/T ratio in the BYHWD group was higher than that in the QDBS group(P<0.05).Conclusion Swimming exhaustion method combined with RST transection operation can successfully establish a rat model of SCI with pathopattern of QDBS.