Effects of Neurotrophin-3 Plasmids on Myocyte Apoptosis and Ca2+-ATPase Content in the Muscle After Nerve Injury in Rats

Abstract

We estimated the influence of plasmids with DNA carrying the neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene on apoptosis in the gastrocnemius muscle and content of Ca 2+ -ATPase in the latter after sciatic nerve injury. Sixty adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into the saline (control) and NT-3 groups. The related indices, such as expression of caspase-3 protein, the rate of apoptosis in the muscle evaluated using a TUNEL technique, and the level of Ca 2+ -ATPase estimated using Western blot, were observed. Expression of caspase-3 protein was elevated at different post-operative times after peripheral nerve injury; NT-3 expression and the rate of muscle cell apoptosis decreased, whereas the level of Ca 2+ -ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum increased; significant differences were observed compared with the saline group (P < 0.05). The mitigation mechanism of NT-3 on muscle atrophy after peripheral nerve injury is expressed as inhibition of caspase-3 gene expression, increase in the Ca 2+ -ATPase level, and reduction in the rate of muscle apoptosis.

The role of neurotrophine‐3 in traumatic brain injury

“…NT‐3 has been reported to promote axonal regeneration, reduce cerebral cortex neuron damage, alleviate nerve inflammation reaction so as to improve movement dysfunction after spinal cord contusion (Elliott Donaghue I, et al, 2016; Guo SG, et al, 2015). NT‐3 can reduce muscle atrophy after peripheral nerve damage by inhibiting caspase 3 gene expression and increasing the Ca 2+ ATP enzyme activity, eventually reducing muscle cell apoptosis (Dong YZ, et al, 2015). The integrity of axons and schwann cells were damaged after peripheral nerve injury, thereby it interfered with the normal function of sensory and motor neurons.…”