Agmatine promotes expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in brainstem facial nucleus in the rat facial nerve injury model

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that agmatine can reduce inhibition of neuronal regeneration by increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus of morphine-dependent rats. The hypothesis that agmatine exerts similar effects oil facial nerve injury deserves further analysis. OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of peritoneal agmatine injection oil BDNF levels in the rat brainstem alter facial nerve injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A controlled animal experiment was performed at the Department of Medical Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongquing University of Medical Sciences (Chongqing, China). between October and December in 2007. MATERIALS: Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control, a lesion, and an agmatine treatment group, with eight rats in each group. Bilateral facial nerve anastomosis was induced in the lesion and agmatine treatment groups, while the control group remained untreated. A rat BDNF Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit was used to measure BDNF levels in the brainstem facial nucleus. METHODS: Starting on the day of lesion, the agmatine group received a peritoneal injection of 100 mg/kg agmatine, once per day, for a week. whereas rats in the lesion group received saline injections. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: BDNF levels in the brainstem containing facial nucleus, were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Twenty-four rats were included in the final analysis without any loss. Two weeks after lesion, BDNF levels were significantly higher in the lesion group than in the control group (P < 0.01). A significant increase was noted in the agmatine group compared to the lesion group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Agmatine can substantially increase BDNF levels in the rat brainstem after facial nerve injury.