Therapeutic mechanism of basic fibroblast growth factor on spinal cord injury in rats based on the Notch/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling pathway

This study investigates the potential of bFGF to treat spinal cord injuries in rats by influencing the Notch/STAT3 signaling pathway. The researchers created a spinal cord injury model in rats and then treated them with bFGF to observe its effects on motor function and tissue repair. The experiment involved comparing rats treated with bFGF to a control group (model group) and a sham-operation group. They evaluated the rats' hind limb function using BBB scoring and examined spinal cord tissue samples for signs of neuronal survival, apoptosis, and inflammation. The findings suggest that bFGF treatment can improve motor function, reduce tissue damage, and promote neuronal survival in rats with spinal cord injuries. The proposed mechanism involves the downregulation of the Notch/STAT3 signaling pathway, which is associated with reduced inflammation and astrocyte activation.

• 1
  bFGF treatment improved motor function in SCI rats, as evidenced by increased BBB scores compared to the model group.
• 2
  bFGF reduced spinal cord tissue damage, including decreased necrotic lesions and increased the number of normally structured Nissl bodies.
• 3
  bFGF suppressed the Notch/STAT3 signaling pathway activity, leading to reduced levels of p-STAT3/STAT3 and BMP-2 proteins in the spinal cord tissue.