Expression of changes in NT3 gene after rat's sciatica nerve compression in the presence of hydroalcoholic extract of mountain tea (Stachyslavandulifolia)

Neurotrophic factors change in response to nerve damage. Stachyslavandulifolia belongs to the Laminaceae family and since tea has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of mountain tea and its effect on NT3 gene expression after compression.

In this experimental study, at first the hydro-alcoholic extract of stachys was prepared by the Soxhlet method. In this study, 36 Wistar male rats , 250-300 gr, were randomly divided into 9 groups, 4 rats in each group, and included control, compression (1, 7, 14 and 21 days) and experimental (1, 7, 14 and 28 days) groups. Experimental groups were treated by 75 mg / kg of hydro-alcoholic extract of stachys and to induce the stress in the control group, saline serum was injected. In compression and experimental groups , the sciatic nerve of right leg was compressed for 60 seconds. The first injection of extract in experimental group was performed intraperitoneally and immediately after the compression and the second one was injected 7 days later. Then the sampling was performed of lumbar spinal cord on 1, 7, 14 and 28 days in compression and experimental groups and the total RNA was extracted from the spinal cord segments, cDNA was synthesized and after that the alteration of gene expression of NT3 samples was studied in both samples, without treatment and treated with hydro-alcoholic extract.Data were analyzed using MxPro software and Anova test with a significant level of p <0.05 and Excel software was used for drawing graphs.

The results showed that NT3 gene expression was significantly increased in the compression and treatment groups (p <0.001). Although, the NT3 gene expression was decreased in the treatment group compared to the compression group.

It seems that hydroalcoholic extract of Stachyslavandulifolia shoots did not affect NT3 gene expression.