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Changes of substance P-immunoreactive nerve fiber innervation density in the sublesional bones in young growing rats at an early stage after spinal cord injury

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Abstract

Summary

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes osteoporosis (OP), and the neuropeptide substance P (SP) may play important roles in the pathogenesis of OP after SCI. Our study confirmed SCI-induced sublesional bone loss in young rats at an early stage is associated with a significant increase of SP-immunoreactive nerve fiber innervation density.

Introduction

Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes osteoporosis (OP), and neuropeptides may play important roles in the pathogenesis of OP after SCI. However, few data exist concerning the relationship between neural factors and OP following SCI.

Methods

One hundred and eight SCI and hindlimb cast immobilization (HCI) rats were studied for skeletal innervation of substance P (SP) and neurofilament 200 (NF200) with immunocytochemistry. Bone and serum SP levels were also assessed using enzyme immunoassay.

Results

Developing bone loss was successfully induced by SCI at 3 wks and by HCI at 6 wks. We observed a significant increase of SP-immunoreactive (IR) nerve fibers and decrease of NF200-IR nerve fibers in the tibiae of SCI rats compared with HCI and control (CON) rats at all time points. SP in the proximal tibiae in SCI rats was significantly higher than that in HCI and CON rats at all time points, but no difference was found in the serum.

Conclusion

SCI-induced sublesional bone loss in young rats at an early stage is associated with a significant increase of nerve fiber innervation density of SP-IR and decrease of NF200-IR. We speculated that neural factors may play an important role in pathogenesis of OP after SCI.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by the hospital and school of medicine where the authors work. We thank Dr. Y. Huang for helpful comments on statistical analyses and sincere encouragement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China

    D. Liu, H. Li, C.-Q. Zhao & L.-S. Jiang

  2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital, 1665 Kongjiang Road, Shanghai, 200092, China

    L.-Y. Dai

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  1. D. Liu
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  2. H. Li
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Correspondence to L.-Y. Dai.

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Liu, D., Li, H., Zhao, CQ. et al. Changes of substance P-immunoreactive nerve fiber innervation density in the sublesional bones in young growing rats at an early stage after spinal cord injury. Osteoporos Int 19, 559–569 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-007-0481-2

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