Abstract: Abstract: Objective To study the effect of Teramethylpyrazine (TMP) on expression of NF-kB and I-kBα in acute spinal cord injury(ASCI) in rats. Methods Allen’S weight drop method was used to establish acute spinal cord injury(SCI) rat model at T10 section and was conducted in 110 adult Sprague Dawley rats that were subsequently divided into Sham operation group (group S， n=10)；Control group (group C，n=50)；Tramethylpyrazine group (group T，n=50). The function of spinal cord was evaluated with animal behavioral scores by measuring modified Rivilin loxotic plate test and counting BBB and CBS score at 1、3、5、7、14and 21d postoperatively．The injured spinal cord tissue samples were harvested at 1h、3h、6h、12h、1d、3d、5d、7d、14d and 21d postoperatively(n=5 for each time point) for the preparation of continuous histological sections that were analyzed the expression of NF-kB and I-kBα by immunohistochemistry method．Results T group had significantly higher degrees than C group at 7、14 and 21 days in modified Rivlin loxotic plate test after SCI (p＜0.05)；T group had significantly higher scores in BBB score than C group at 5、7、14 and 21 days after SCI respectively(p＜0.05).C group had significantly higher scores in CBS score than T group at 5、7、14 and 21 days after SCI respectively(p＜0.05). The number of NF-kB positive cells were significantly lower in T group than C group at 1、3、5 and 7 days after SCI(p＜0.05); The number of I-kBα positive cells were significantly lower in C group than T group at 1、3、5 and 7 days after SCI(p＜0.05). Conclusion The TMP can promote the repair of injured spinal cord tissue through increasing the I-kBα expression and decreasing the NF-kB expressions in cells after ASCI.

Key words: Key words: spinal cord injury, tetramethylpyrazine, NF-kB, I-kBα