AIM:To observe the effects of phosphatidylcholine from soybean lecithin (SB-pc) on the
synaptic quality and ultrastructure in the cornu anterius
medullae spinalis of thoracic segments in young rats, and investigate the spinal nervous synaptic plasticity as well as the mechanism of spinal synaptic plasticity and the effective action mechanism of SB-pc.METHODS: ① The experiment was conducted in the Laboratory of Nevous Reseach, Basic Medical College of Lanzhou University from March to December 2004. A total of 22 healthy male Wistar
rats of 5 weeks old were randomly divided into two groups: SB-pc
additive feeding group and control group with 11 rats in each group. Rats in the SB-pc additive feeding group received gastric perfusion of lecithin (500 mg/kg/d) dissolved in 50 ml distilled water once a day; Rats in the normal control group received gastric perfusion of 50 ml distilled water once a day. Rats in both groups ate (standard basic feeder) and drank freely during the experimental process. ②After fed for 8 weeks, materials were drew by perfusion, changes of synaptic numerical density of anterior gray horn in
pars thoracica medullae spinalis as well as the decsity of media area in synaptic active area of rats in both groups were observed under transmission electron microscope. The synaptic numerical density of anterior gray horn in pars thoracica medullae spinalis as well as the decsity of media area in synaptic active area were measured with lattice test system and point counting method. ③ Differences of measurement data were compared with t test.RESULTS: A total of 22 rats were involved in the analysis of results. The synaptic numerical density of anterior gray horn in pars thoracica medullae spinalis and the decsity of media area in synaptic active area in the SB-pc additive feeding group were higher than those in the control group (38.27 ±3.98) /μm3,(0.058 7±0.007) μm2/μm3; (18.36±3.14) /μm3,(0.026 4 ±0.009) μm2/μm3,t=13.032,9.181, P < 0.01.CONCLUSION: The synaptic number in pars thoracica medullae spinalis and the media area in synaptic active area of rats fed with additive SB-pc are increased, and the synaptic plasticity of spinal nerves in young rats are enhanced.
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