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Increased Calpain Expression Is Associated with Apoptosis in Rat Spinal Cord Injury: Calpain Inhibitor Provides Neuroprotection

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Abstract

Calpain content was investigated in the lesion of rat spinal cord at 1, 4, 24, and 72 h following injury induced by the weight-drop (40 g-cm force) technique. Calpain content was increased in the lesion, and was highest at 24 h following injury. μCalpain mRNA level in the lesion was increased by 58.4% (p = 0.0135) at 24 h following trauma, compared to sham. Alterations in mRNA expression in the lesion increased bax/bcl-2 ratio by 20.8% (p = 0.0395) at this time point, indicating a commitment to apoptosis. Therapeutic effect of the calpain inhibitor E-64-d (1 mg/kg) was studied in SCI rats follwing administration for 24 h. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation (apoptosis) was observed in SCI rats, but not in sham or E-64-d treated rats. These results indicate a new information that E-64-d has the therapeutic potential for inhibiting apoptosis in SCI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425

    Swapan K. Ray, Denise D. Matzelle, Gloria G. Wilford & Edward L. Hogan

  2. Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, 29425

    Naren L. Banik

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Ray, S.K., Matzelle, D.D., Wilford, G.G. et al. Increased Calpain Expression Is Associated with Apoptosis in Rat Spinal Cord Injury: Calpain Inhibitor Provides Neuroprotection. Neurochem Res 25, 1191–1198 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007631826160

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