Immunohistochemical study of osteopontin in the spinal cords of rats with clip compression injury

• Published in: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science Vol. 66; no. 10; pp. 1307 - 1310
• Main Authors: Moon, C. (Cheju National Univ., Jeju (Korea R.)), Heo, S, Ahn, M, Kim, H, Shin, M, Sim, K.B, Kim, H.M, Shin, T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE 01.10.2004; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Animals; Blotting, Western; DAMAGE; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; HISTOPATHOLOGY; Immunohistochemistry; IMMUNOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES; macrophage; Male; Osteopontin; PHOSPHOPROTEINS; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen - metabolism; RATS; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Sialoglycoproteins - metabolism; SPINAL CORD; Spinal Cord Injuries - metabolism; Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology; spinal cord injury
• ISSN: 0916-7250; 1347-7439
• DOI: 10.1292/jvms.66.1307

Expression of osteopontin (OPN) was investigated in the spinal cords of rats with clip compression injury. Western blot analysis demonstrated that OPN protein increased significantly in the spinal cord during the early stages after injury. The increased expression of OPN was partially paralleled by that of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Immunohistochemical staining showed that OPN was expressed in proliferating activated microglia/macrophages in core lesions and in some astrocytes at the periphery of lesions. These results indicate that expression of OPN protein increases mainly in activated microglia/macrophages after spinal cord injury, suggesting that OPN is related to cell proliferation during the early stages after injury, probably leading to tissue remodeling.