Total rupture of achilles tendon induces inflammatory response and glial activation on the mice spinal cord 

Abstract

Rupture of Achilles tendon is a common accident affecting professional and recreational athletes. Acute and chronic pains are symptoms commonly observed in ruptured patients. Despite that, no studies have described whether Achilles tendon rupture is able to promote disorders in CNS. Based in these finds, the current study aimed to evaluate nociceptive alterations and inflammatory response in L5 lumbar segment of Balb/c mice spinal cord after Achilles tendon rupture. We demonstrated increased algesic response in the paw of ruptured group on the 7th and 14th days post tenotomy when compared with control group. This phenomenon was accompanied by over expression of COX-2 and NOS-2 as well as hyperactivation of astrocytes and microglia in nociceptive areas of L5 spinal cord as evidenced by intense GFAP and IBA-1 immunostaining, respectively. Biochemical studies also demonstrated increased levels of nitrite in the L5 spinal cord of tenotomized animals when compared with control group. Thus, we have demonstrate for the first time that total rupture of the Achilles tendon induces inflammatory response, nitrergic and glial activation in the CNS at L5 spinal cord region.