Figure 1

EGb761 protects motoneurons against avulsion-induced injury in rats. EGb761 protects motoneurons against avulsion-induced injury in rats. The neuroprotective effect of EGb761 against avulsion injury is associated with reductions in nitric oxide production and NOS expressions in the injured spinal cord. Compared to saline controls, EGb761 reduced nitric oxide levels in the serum at 2 w and 6 w, but not at 5 d and 4 w (Fig. A) and reduced nitric oxide levels in injured C6-T1 spinal segments at the 2 w, 4 w and 6 w time points (Fig. B). EGb761 down-regulated cNOS levels (Fig. C), iNOS (Fig. D), nNOS levels in injured C6-T1 spinal segments (Fig. E,F), nNOS expressions in ipsilateral ventral horn motoneurons, and the death of injured motoneurons in ipsilateral ventral horn (Fig. H,J,L,N,P) induced by C5-T1 root avulsion injury. *P < 0.01 compared with the 'avulsion+saline (Av)' group at the same time point in graphic presentations of Fig. G,I,K,M,O. Cross-sections of rat C7 segments from rats that underwent root avulsion and were injected with saline (Fig G,I,K,M,O) or EGb761 (Fig. H,J,L,N,P). Panels (G) and (H) were from rats surviving for 5 d after root avulsion. Panels (I) and (J) were from rats surviving for 2 w after root avulsion. Panels (K) and (L) were from rats surviving for 4 w after root avulsion. Panels (M) and (N) were from rats surviving for 6 w after root avulsion. Panels (O) and (P) were from rats surviving for 8 w after root avulsion. NADPH-d plus neutral red stain ×10 in Fig G-P.