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Abstract Background: Fetal Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) develops viability and proliferation of nerve cells. Also this fluid contains many valuable factors for protection of nervous system injury cells. In this research, the effect of cerebrospinal fluid intraperitoneal injection on alpha motor degeneration after sciatic nerve compression in rat was determined. Materials and Methods: In this experimental-laboratory study, 18 male Wistar rats divided randomly in 3 groups (control, compression, and experimental). In compression and experimental group, right sciatic nerves were highly compressed. CSF was injected in experimental group each three days. After 1 month care, all rats were cordially perused by 10% formaldehyde and their L4-L6 lumbar segments of spinal cord were sampled and with processed for histological examination, the paraffin blocks were serially cut (7mm). Slices were stained with toluidine blue and numerical densities of motoneurons in spinal ventral horn were estimated stereological (dissector) technique. Quantitative data were analyzed by T-test. Results: Significant reduce in motoneurons number of compression group (47026) in comparison with control group (173978) was seen. Also there was significant difference between compression and experimental groups (992±141) in neuron density. Conclusion: CSF intraperitoneal injection may have a beneficial effect in neural regeneration.

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Background: Salvia staminea, belonging to lamiaceae family, has positive effects on the nervous system and possesses anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the neuro-protective effects of salvia and its total ethanol extract on spinal cord motoneurons in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods:In an experimental trial, 54 male Wistar rats were divided into nine groups of six: Control, compression, treatment A (ethanol extract of root in 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg doses), treatment B (aqua extract of root in 25 and 50 mg/kg doses), treatment C (aqua extract of leaves in 50 mg/kg doses), and treatment D (ethanol extract of leaves in 75 mg/kg doses). In compression and treatment groups, 28 days after inducing impairment in α motoneurons, sampling of the left leg sciatic nerves was done in the rats. Following tissue passage, 7 micron cuts were obtained and painted with blue toluidine. Neuralgia motoneurons count was, then, carried out through steriology and dissector methods. Results: Neuron number density in the rats treated with 50 mg/kg doses of total aqua and ethanol extracts of leaves and 75 mg/kg dose of ethanol extract of root showed significant differences in comparison to that of the compression group (p<0.05). Conclusion: The results of this study prove the neuroprotective effects of these extracts on neuralgia motoneurons of spinal cord.

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Abstract

Background: The injuries of peripheral nervous system cause the death of a number of motor cells of the spinal cord. Neurotrophins family genes such as NT3 involve in neuronal survive after nerve injury and their expression changes after it. With due attention to the expansion of portulaca pleracea in the world study was conducted to determine the effects of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Potulaca oleracea on the NT3 gene expression after sciatic nerve compression in rat.

Materials and Methods: This study was performed on 88 male wistar rats that randomly were divided in 13 groups of 6 each. They consisted of control group, 4 compression groups (The sciatic nerve was compressed with locker pincer) and 8 treatment groups: compression + treatment with dose of 75 mg/kg of alcoholic and aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea on days 1 and 7 (never compression was done on the first day). In all groups, Total RNA was extracted from the lumbar spinal cord segment in 1, 7, 14, 28 days and cDNA was synthesized, then NT3 expression changes were compared in groups.

Results: There was a significant increase in NT3 gene expression in the compression group compared to control (p<0.001). The NT3 gene expression shows significant increase (p<0.05) in the treatment groups with alcoholic extract (except 1& 28 days). Also, there was no significant difference in gene expression between treatment group with acqueous extract and compression group in 1 and 7 days. A significant decrease was seen in the treatment groups with aqueous extract of purslane compared to compression (p<0.05). The NT3 gene expression shows significant increase in the treatment groups with alcoholic extract compared to treatment groups with aqueous extract in all days (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The results reveal the Portulaca oleracea leaves extracts increase the NT3 gene expression after sciatic nerve injury. This effect is more in alcoholic extract than aqueous extract.