Objective: To investigate the effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor and its antagonist on secondary damage after spinal cord injury.
Methods: We extracted spinal cord neurocyte membrane protein in cats by improved Domigo method. The specific binding sites of PAF were measured by 3H-PAF radioligand binding test.
Results: There were both high affinity binding sites and low affinity binding sites of PAF on spinal cord neurocyte membrane. The Kd1, Bmax1, Kd2 and Bmax2 of PAF receptor on spinal cord neurocyte membrane at 2, 6 hours and 1 week after trauma significantly decreased as compared to sham-operated control group (P < 0.01). PAF receptor antagonist BN52021 could reduced water content and Even's blue content of injured spinal cord tissue, also improve pathological change of spinal cord tissue after trauma.
Conclusions: PAF receptor plays an important role in inducing pathophysiological process of secondary damage after trauma. PAF receptor antagonist can effectively prevent and treat secondary damage after trauma.