Combined treatment with FK506 and nerve growth factor for spinal cord injury in rats

EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE, 2013 · DOI: 10.3892/etm.2013.1254 · Published: July 17, 2013

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Neurology

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the combined effects of FK506 and NGF on spinal cord injury in rats, examining NF200 protein and mRNA expression, and spinal cord function recovery. The experiment involved inducing spinal cord injury in rats and then treating them with FK506, NGF, or a combination of both, to assess the synergistic effect. The study aims to determine if the combined treatment of FK506 and NGF can effectively promote neural regeneration and functional recovery in rats following spinal cord injury.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

120 Sprague-Dawley female clean rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The combined treatment of FK506 and NGF significantly enhanced the expression of NF200 in rats with spinal cord injury.
2
The combined treatment significantly improved spinal cord functions compared with single treatments of FK506 or NGF.
3
The experimental observations indicated that FK506 and NGF exhibit a synergistic effect in treating spinal cord injury in rats.

Research Summary

This study aimed to determine if FK506 and NGF had a synergistic effect on the recovery of spinal cord functions in rats with acute spinal cord injury. The results demonstrated that the combined treatment significantly enhanced NF200 expression and improved spinal cord functions, showing a synergistic effect. The study concluded that the combined treatment of FK506 and NGF can effectively promote neural regeneration and functional recovery in rats following spinal cord injury.

Practical Implications

Enhanced Treatment Strategy

The combined treatment with FK506 and NGF can be more effective than individual treatments for spinal cord injury, offering an improved therapeutic approach.

Neuroprotective Mechanisms

The synergistic effect of FK506 and NGF can enhance the neurotrophic and neuroprotective mechanisms, leading to improved neural regeneration and functional recovery.

Clinical Applications

The findings suggest a potential new treatment means for acute spinal cord injury, which could be translated into clinical applications to improve patient outcomes.

Study Limitations

1
The drug delivery method (intraperitoneal injection) had a low biological utilization rate.
2
The study focused on acute spinal cord injury in rats, limiting the generalizability to chronic conditions or other species.
3
Further research is needed to fully elucidate the synergistic mechanisms of FK506 and NGF.

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