Objective: To observe the effect of Danshen injection on expression of oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor-2 (Olig-2) and OX-42 (markers of proliferation of oligodendrocyte and microglia) in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI)

in order to explore its mechanism of promoting spinal cord functional recovery. Method: Fifty SPF SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=10)

namely normal control group

model group

Danshen injection treatment group

Danshen injection+rapamycin group and methylprednisolone sodium group.All of the rats

except for normal control group

were included in the weight-drop SCI model by the Allens' method.Then

normal saline (1 mL · kg-1)

Danshen injection (1 mL · kg-1) and Danshen injection (1 mL · kg-1

containing rapamycin 3 mg · kg-1) were intraperitoneally injected into model group

Danshen injection treatment group and Danshen injection+rapamycin group rats once a day

respectively

and methylprednisolone sodium solution (30 g · L-1) was injected into the methylprednisolone sodium group rats through tail vein at the dosage of 1 mL · kg-1 once a day.The rats in normal control group were fed with routine foods

with no injection.The combine behavioral score (CBS) of rats in all group were detected on 1

3

7

14 d after SCI.All of these rats were put to death on 14 d after SCI

and the expressions of Olig-2 and OX-42 were detected with immunofluorescence staining and Western blot technique. Result: Compared with the model group and the Danshen injection+rapamycin group

CBS significantly declined in treatment group on 14 d after SCI (P<0.05).Compared with the normal control group

the expressions (including relative content and immunes histochemistry positive cells number) of Olig-2 declined

and OX-42 elevated in model group (P<0.05).Compared with the model group

the expressions of Olig-2 elevated and OX-42 declined in Danshen injection treatment group and methylprednisolone sodium group(P<0.05). Compared with the Danshen injection treatment group

the expressions of Olig-2 declined and OX-42 elevated in Danshen injection+rapamycin group (P<0.05).There was no statistically significant difference in these indicators between Danshen injection treatment group and methylprednisolone sodium group. Conclusion: Danshen injection could promote the recovery of nerve function after SCI by elevating the proliferation of OLS and inhibiting the activation of microglia

and the mechanism may be related to the activity of the phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.