Subcellular fractionation and electrophoretic analysis of proteins from the regenerating nerve in rabbits following treatment with triiodothyronine (T3).

BACKGROUND

Triidothyronine(T3) plays a critical role in the physiological function of virtually all tissues. In the present study the effect of T3 on nerve regeneration was studied.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The right sciatic nerve of 20 male rabbits was axonotomised. Ten of the animals were used as controls while the others received T3. Seven days later, all were sacrificed. Both sciatic nerves were excised and each axonotomised nerve was divided into three equal segments: I (proximal to the lesion), II (containing the lesion), III (distal to the lesion). Corresponding segments from the contralateral nerves were used as controls. After subcellular fractionation, proteins were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and identified by proteomic analysis.

RESULTS

T3 administration increased the levels of tubulins alpha 6 and beta 3, beta-actin, myelin protein zero, myelin basic protein, myelin protein-2 and histones H3 and H2A in segments I and III of the injured nerves. Increases in the levels of beta-actin and Y box-binding protein correlated to the event of injury rather than T3 administration.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that T3 treatment positively affects peripheral nerve regeneration.