基质金属蛋白酶在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

肌缺血再灌注损伤是指缺血心肌组织在恢复血流供给后,其细胞代谢功能障碍及结构破坏反而加重的现象,主要表现在心肌收缩与舒张功能障碍、血管内皮功能障碍、微循环血流紊乱、细胞代谢失调、电解质平衡紊乱、细胞凋亡与坏死等,并伴随着氧自由基的大量产生和毒性损伤以及炎症反应的激活,是一个极其复杂的病理过程。基质金属蛋白酶（MMPs）及其组织抑制物（TIMPs）是心肌组织中多种细胞分泌的内源性细胞因子,其作用涵盖了细胞外基质降解、炎症反应激活、调节血管功能、影响细胞凋亡与存活等众多病理生理过程,而这些过程均在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中发挥着重要的作用。     

基质金属蛋白酶在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用

肌缺血再灌注损伤是指缺血心肌组织在恢复血流供给后,其细胞代谢功能障碍及结构破坏反而加重的现象,主要表现在心肌收缩与舒张功能障碍、血管内皮功能障碍、微循环血流紊乱、细胞代谢失调、电解质平衡紊乱、细胞凋亡与坏死等,并伴随着氧自由基的大量产生和毒性损伤以及炎症反应的激活,是一个极其复杂的病理过程。基质金属蛋白酶(MMPs)及其组织抑制物(TIMPs)是心肌组织中多种细胞分泌的内源性细胞因子,其作用涵盖了细胞外基质降解、炎症反应激活、调节血管功能、影响细胞凋亡与存活等众多病理生理过程,而这些过程均在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中发挥着重要的作用。     

桑叶总黄酮预处理对大鼠缺血再灌注损伤心肌抗氧化作用的研究

为研究桑叶总黄酮预处理对缺血再灌注损伤心肌的抗氧化作用,采用结扎左冠状动脉前降支30min,再灌注2h的方法制备大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型。将50只大鼠随机分为假手术组、缺血再灌注损伤模型组和桑叶总黄酮高、中、低剂量预处理组,每组10只。实验结束后,取动脉血和心脏。测定各组血清生化指标肌酸激酶(CK)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)的含量;测定心肌生化指标超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的活性和丙二醛(MDA)的含量。结果显示,与模型组相比,桑叶总黄酮预处理组使血清中的CK、LDH含量明显降低,同时使心肌组织中的SOD活性提高,MDA含量降低。结果表明,桑叶总黄酮预处理对缺血再灌注损伤心肌有明显的保护作用,其机制可能与提高心肌SOD活性、清除自由基、增强抗氧化能力有关。     

参芎注射液对脑缺血再灌注大鼠的神经元保护作用

目的:观察参芎注射液对大鼠局灶性脑缺血再灌注后神经细胞凋亡及内质网应激相关因子葡萄糖调节蛋白/免疫球蛋白结合蛋白(GRP78/Bip)表达的影响.方法:100只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组、假手术组、脑缺血再灌注组、参芎治疗组;后两组根据再灌注时间不同各分为6、12、24、72 h四个亚组;采用大鼠大脑中动脉线栓法制备局灶性脑缺血再灌注模型.TUNEL法观察细胞凋亡情况;免疫组化和RT-PCR法检测各实验组中缺血周围区GRP78/Bip的表达.结果:TUNEL法表明参芎治疗组大鼠大脑神经细胞凋亡程度较缺血再灌注组明显减轻.免疫组化和RT-PCR检测均发现各时间点缺血再灌注组大鼠GRP78/Bip表达高于假手术组及正常组;脑缺血再灌注组及参芎治疗组GRP78/Bip的表达于缺血后12 h最高,72 h恢复至正常水平,且均呈现先升高后降低的趋势;各时间点缺血再灌注组GRP78/Bip表达均高于参芎治疗组.结论:再灌注损伤后12 h内出现GRP78/Bip表达升高.参芎注射液可以下调其表达,从而可能通过减轻内质网应激而减轻缺血再灌注损伤起到神经元保护的作用.     

Unilateral Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion as a Robust Model for Acute to Chronic Kidney Injury in Mice

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an underestimated, yet important risk factor for development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Even after initial total recovery of renal function, some patients develop progressive and persistent deterioration of renal function and these patients are more likely to progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Animal models are indispensable for unravelling the mechanisms underlying this progression towards CKD and ESRD and for the development of new therapeutic strategies in its prevention or treatment. Ischemia (i.e. hypoperfusion after surgery, bleeding, dehydration, shock, or sepsis) is a major aetiology in human AKI, yet unilateral ischemia-reperfusion is a rarely used animal model for research on CKD and fibrosis. Here, we demonstrate in C57Bl/6J mice, by both histology and gene expression, that unilateral ischemia-reperfusion without contralateral nephrectomy is a very robust model to study the progression from acute renal injury to long-term tubulo-interstitial fibrosis, i.e. the histopathological hallmark of CKD. Furthermore, we report that the extent of renal fibrosis, in terms of Col I, TGFβ, CCN2 and CCN3 expression and collagen I immunostaining, increases with increasing body temperature during ischemia and ischemia-time. Thus, varying these two main determinants of ischemic injury allows tuning the extent of the long-term fibrotic outcome in this model. Finally, in order to cover the whole practical finesse of ischemia-reperfusion and allow model and data transfer, we provide a referenced overview on crucial technical issues (incl. anaesthesia, analgesia, and pre- and post-operative care) with the specific aim of putting starters in the right direction of implementing ischemia in their research and stimulate them, as well as the community, to have a critical view on ischemic literature data.     

Chronic Testosterone Replacement Exerts Cardioprotection against Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Attenuating Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Testosterone-Deprived Rats

Background

Although testosterone deficiency is associated with increased risks of heart disease, the benefits of testosterone therapy are controversial. Moreover, current understanding on the cardiac effect of testosterone during cardiac ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) periods is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that testosterone replacement attenuates the impairment of left ventricular (LV) function and heart rate variability (HRV), and reduces the infarct size and arrhythmias caused by I/R injury in orchiectomized (ORX) rats.

Methodology

ORX or sham-operated male Wistar rats (n = 24) were randomly divided and received either testosterone (2 mg/kg, subcutaneously administered) or the vehicle for 8 weeks. The ejection fraction (EF) and HRV were determined at baseline and the 4^th and 8^th week. I/R was performed by left anterior descending coronary artery ligation for 30 minutes, followed by a 120-minute reperfusion. LV pressure, arrhythmia scores, infarct size and cardiac mitochondrial function were determined.

Results

Prior to I/R, EF and HRV were impaired in the ORX group, but were restored in the testosterone-treated group. During I/R, arrhythmia scores and the infarct size were greater, and cardiac mitochondrial function was impaired, whereas the time to 1^st VT/VF onset and the LV end-systolic pressure were decreased in the ORX group when compared to the sham group. Testosterone replacement attenuated the impairment of these parameters in ORX rats during I/R injury, but did not show any benefit or adverse effect in non-ORX rats.

Conclusions

Testosterone replacement restores cardiac function and autonomic regulation, and exerts cardioprotective effects during the I/R period via mitochondrial protection in ORX rats.     

VEGF 对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的预防作用及其机制研究

目的:研究局灶性脑缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡、HSP70蛋白表达时空规律以及外源VEGF及VEGF抗体对它们的影响,探讨VEGF对缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用及其机制.方法:采用原位末端标记(TUNEL)、免疫组化方法,研究局灶性脑缺血再灌注后细胞凋亡数及HSP70蛋白表达时空分布,采用脑表面使用VEGF及侧脑室注射VEGF抗体,观察内外源VEGF对它们的影响.结果:VEGF抗体能显著增加缺血侧脑组织凋亡细胞数(再灌注12h-7d)及HSP70表达量(再灌注1-3d),而外源VEGF因子能显著减少同侧脑组织凋亡细胞(再灌注全程)及HSP70表达量(再灌注1-3d).结论:VEGF因子可抑制缺血脑组织细胞凋亡及HSP70表达量,提示VEGF参与保护缺血性脑损伤.     

一氧化氮在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的调节作用 及相关治疗药物研究进展

一氧化氮 ( NO ) 是体内调节心血管系统功能的重要信号分子,在血管收舒、血小板活性调节、细胞增殖凋亡、氧化应激及炎症反 应等过程中发挥了不可或缺的作用。在心肌缺血再灌注过程中,随着一氧化氮合成酶表达和 NO 底物水平的动态变化,NO 生成的时间和 产量均会发生变化,导致其作用具有两面性。综述 NO 的产生与作用、在心肌缺血再灌注损伤中的作用和影响因素以及相关治疗药物及作 用机制的研究进展,为心肌缺血再灌注损伤的有效治疗和进一步研究提供参考     

Neuroprotective Potential of Fasudil Mesylate in Brain Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Rats

We previously reported that inhibition of Rho-kinase (ROCK) by hydroxyl fasudil improves cognitive deficit and neuronal damage in rats with chronic cerebral ischemia (Huang et al., Cell Mol Neurobiol 28:757–768, 2008). In this study, fasudil mesylate (FM) was investigated for its neuroprotective potential in rats with ischemia following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) and reperfusion. The effect of fasudil mesylate was also studied in rat brain cortical and hippocampal slices treated with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) injury. Gross anatomy showed that cerebral infarct size, measured with 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, was significantly smaller in the FM-treated than in the non-FM-treated ischemic rats. In the brain regions vulnerable to ischemia of ischemic rats, fasudil mesylate was also found to significantly restore the enzyme protein expression level of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), which was decreased in ischemia. However, it remarkably reduced the protein synthesis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) that was induced by ischemia and reperfusion. In rat brain slices treated with OGD injury, fasudil mesylate increased the neuronal cell viability by 40% for cortex and by 61% for hippocampus, respectively. Finally, in the presence of OGD and fasudil mesylate, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was increased by 50% for cortex and by 58% for hippocampus, compared to OGD only group. In conclusion, our in vivo study showed that fasudil mesylate not only decreased neurological deficit but also reduced cerebral infarct size, possibly and at least partially by augmenting eNOS protein expression and inhibiting iNOS protein expression after ischemia-reperfusion. Xian-Ju Huang contributed equally to this article.     

蛇床子素在大鼠肠缺血再灌注肺损伤模型中的肺保护机制研究

目的：探讨蛇床子素（Osthole）在大鼠肠缺血再灌注肺损伤（IIRI）中的保护机制。方法：健康雄性SD大鼠40只随机分为假手术组（sham组）、缺血再灌注组（I／R）和两个不同剂量给药组（Ost）,其中缺血再灌注组和给药组采用夹闭大鼠肠系膜上动脉60min后松开动脉夹形成缺血再灌注模型。各给药组于缺血再灌注30min后分别给予5mg／kg、25mg／kg蛇床子素腹腔注射治疗。各实验组动物分别采用HE染色、肺组织水肿（W／D）比值、ELISA检测和免疫组化评价蛇床子素在缺血再灌注肺损伤后的肺保护机制。结果：缺血再灌注30min后,给药组大鼠HE,W／D、IL-1B和TNF—α结果均明显优于对照组（P〈0．05）,并在25mg／kg剂量时表现出最大保护效果,同时Caspase-3蛋白表达水平也显著降低。结论：蛇床子素在大鼠肠缺血再灌注肺损伤后有一定的肺保护作用。     

Contribution of Mature Hepatocytes to Biliary Regeneration in Rats with Acute and Chronic Biliary Injury

Whether hepatocytes can convert into biliary epithelial cells (BECs) during biliary injury is much debated. To test this concept, we traced the fate of genetically labeled [dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV)-positive] hepatocytes in hepatocyte transplantation model following acute hepato-biliary injury induced by 4,4’-methylene-dianiline (DAPM) and D-galactosamine (DAPM+D-gal) and in DPPIV-chimeric liver model subjected to acute (DAPM+D-gal) or chronic biliary injury caused by DAPM and bile duct ligation (DAPM+BDL). In both models before biliary injury, BECs are uniformly DPPIV-deficient and proliferation of DPPIV-deficient hepatocytes is restricted by retrorsine. We found that mature hepatocytes underwent a stepwise conversion into BECs after biliary injury. In the hepatocyte transplantation model, DPPIV-positive hepatocytes entrapped periportally proliferated, and formed two-layered plates along portal veins. Within the two-layered plates, the hepatocytes gradually lost their hepatocytic identity, proceeded through an intermediate state, acquired a biliary phenotype, and subsequently formed bile ducts along the hilum-to-periphery axis. In DPPIV-chimeric liver model, periportal hepatocytes expressing hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β (HNF-1β) were exclusively DPPIV-positive and were in continuity to DPPIV-positives bile ducts. Inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation by additional doses of retrorsine in DPPIV-chimeric livers prevented the appearance of DPPIV-positive BECs after biliary injury. Moreover, enriched DPPIV-positive BEC/hepatic oval cell transplantation produced DPPIV-positive BECs or bile ducts in unexpectedly low frequency and in mid-lobular regions. These results together suggest that mature hepatocytes but not contaminating BECs/hepatic oval cells are the sources of periportal DPPIV-positive BECs. We conclude that mature hepatocytes contribute to biliary regeneration in the environment of acute and chronic biliary injury through a ductal plate configuration without the need of exogenously genetic or epigenetic manipulation.     

大鼠胰腺炎相关性急性肺损伤模型的探讨

目的研究5%牛磺胆酸钠(TAC)逆行胆胰管注射诱发急性胰腺炎相关肺损伤的大鼠模型。方法采用改进的胆胰管逆行注射TAC造成大鼠急性出血坏死型胰腺炎(AHNP)模型,将大鼠随机分为3组:AHNP组、假手术组、地塞米松(DXM)治疗组。造模成功后,立即静脉注射大剂量DXM(5 mg/kg)。术后于3、6、12 h处死,留取外周血测定血清淀粉酶、脂肪酶,取右肺中叶测定肺湿干比值及作病理切片,计算等级评分评价肺损伤;行支气管肺泡灌洗,以灌洗液白蛋白与血清白蛋白含量比值计算肺指数。结果AHNP组36、、12 h肺通透性指数、湿干比值及病理学评分逐渐增加,经单因素方差分析,61、2 h组高于3 h组(P<0.05),前两者于6、12 h组组内比较差异不显著(P>0.05)。DXM组于术后61、2 h,各项肺损伤指标均低于AHNP组(P<0.05)。结论TAC胆胰管逆行注射造成AHNP模型大鼠于术后6 h即出现明显的肺损伤表现,符合PALI病理改变,与临床AHNP合并急性肺损伤(ALI)的病理过程相似,可于此时相点作为研究AHNP合并肺损伤的模型。     

大鼠心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型的实验研究

目的 制备一种新型的心肌急性缺血再灌注损伤模型,以探讨一种更符合临床实际需求的实验方法.方法 将20只雌性SD(Sprague-Dawley)大鼠随机分成2组(对照组、实验组),采用结扎主动脉根部引起心肌缺血5min再灌注30 min建立心肌急性缺血再灌注模型;通过应用透射电镜观察心肌细胞超微结构的改变,同时检测心肌组织匀浆丙二醛(Maleic Dialdehyde,MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide Dismutase,SOD)活力.结果 透射电镜下超微结构显示实验组较对照组明显加重了心肌组织结构和线粒体的损害;实验组心肌组织MDA明显高于对照组(P<0.01),而SOD明显低于对照组(P<0.01).结论 本实验成功建立了方法简便、易于操作、取材范围广泛的心肌缺血再灌注损伤模型,为心肌缺血再灌注损伤研究提供了一种更为可行的模型.     

连续摄入小球藻提取物缓解大鼠运动性心肌损伤研究

为探讨小球藻保护大鼠运动因运动造成的心肌损伤,为小球藻科学合理的应用和推广提供理论依据,本研究将60只SD大鼠随机分为5组:对照组(C组)、运动对照组(S组)、运动+低剂量小球藻组(SCL组)、运动+高剂量小球藻组(SCH组),每组12只大鼠。所有参与实验的大鼠每天自由饮水择食,小球藻的摄入采用灌胃器每日灌胃一次。小球藻各组灌胃体积为5 m L/kg,其他组灌入等量生理盐水。安静对照组(C组)笼内自由活动,不进行额外运动,运动对照组(S组)、运动+低剂量小球藻组(SCL组)、运动+高剂量小球藻组(SCH组)进行8周的跑台跑步训练,每周6次。1~4周进行中等强度训练,5~8周进行高强度训练。本研究发现,在大鼠血清谷丙转氨酶、乳酸脱氢酶、肌酸激酶、α-羟丁酸脱氢酶含量水平,S组较C组均显著升高(p<0.05)。血清谷丙转氨酶、乳酸脱氢酶、肌酸激酶含量,SCL组和SCH组显著低于S组(p<0.05),SCL组和SCH组组间无显著性差异(p>0.05),且随剂量增加而递减。鼠心肌SOD活性方面,S组显著低于C组(p<0.05);SCL组和SCH组显著高于S组(p<0.05),组间随剂量增加而递增;SCH组显著高于SCL组(p<0.05)。血清、心肌CGRP水平,S组显著低于C组(p<0.05);SCL组和SCH组显著低于S组均显著降低(p<0.05)。本研究认为摄入小球藻能够有效消除机体由于长期高强度大负荷运动下产生的过量的自由基;提高机体免疫力,增强血管原生性一氧化氮合酶活性。     

地塞米松与硫酸镁对大鼠小肠缺血再灌注损伤的作用及机制

目的研究地塞米松和硫酸镁对大鼠小肠缺血再灌注（I/R）损伤的保护作用,并初步探讨其机制。方法制作小肠I/R模型,实验分为假手术阴性对照组、I/R组、硫酸镁治疗组、地塞米松治疗组、地塞米松和硫酸镁联合治疗组,比较五组血浆二胺氧化酶（DAO）、丙二醛（MDA）的含量,同时比较小肠的病理切片观察治疗效果。结果①I/R组小肠组织病理变化明显,血浆DAO、MDA比假手术阴性对照组显著升高;②硫酸镁治疗组和地塞米松治疗组小肠病理变化减轻,血浆DAO、MDA比I/R组显著降低,且两组无显著差别;③硫酸镁和地塞米松合用组的血浆MDA比I/R组显著升高,但是小肠病理变化和I/R组相比无明显区别,血浆DAO也和I/R组无明显差别。结论硫酸镁,地塞米松分别对大鼠小肠缺血再灌注有保护作用而二者合用却无明显的保护作用。     

吸氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用

目的探讨吸氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤的保护作用。方法通过大鼠局灶脑缺血再灌注损伤模型,采用SOD、MDA测定、电镜及神经行为学检查的方法,观察吸氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤后SOD、MDA、神经行为学评分及脑组织病理变化。结果吸氧预处理组SOD活力高于对照组(P<0.05),MDA含量、神经行为学评分均低于对照组(P<0.05),脑组织超微结构损伤均减轻。结论吸氧预处理对大鼠脑缺血再灌注损伤有保护作用。     

Juglone from Walnut Produces Cardioprotective Effects against Isoproterenol-Induced Myocardial Injury in SD Rats

Therapeutic and/or preventive interventions using phytochemical constituents for ischemic heart disease have gained considerable attention worldwide, mainly due to their antioxidant activity. This study investigated the cardioprotective effect and possible mechanism of juglone, a major constituent of the walnut tree, using an isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial infarction (MI) model in rats. Rats were pretreated for five (5) days with juglone (1, 3 mg/kg, i.p) and atenolol (1 mg/kg, i.p) in separate experiments before inducing myocardial injury by administration of ISO (80 mg/kg, s.c) at an interval of 24 h for 2 consecutive days (4th and 5th day). The cardioprotective effect of juglone was confirmed through a lead II electrocardiograph (ECG), cardiac biomarkers (cTnI, CPK, CK-MB, LDH, ALT and AST) and histopathological study. The results of our present study suggest that prior administration of juglone (1 and 3 mg/kg) proved to be effective as a cardioprotective therapeutic agent in reducing the extent of myocardial damage (induced by ISO) by fortifying the myocardial cell membrane, preventing elevated T-waves, deep Q-waves in the ECG, heart to body weight ratio, infarction and also by normalizing cardiac marker enzymes (cTnI, CPK, CK-MB, LDH, ALT and AST) and histopathological changes, such as inflammation, edema and necrosis. In conclusion, this study has identified phytochemical constituents, in particular juglone, as a potential cardioprotective agent.     

Maternal Treatment with Agonistic Autoantibodies against Type-1 Angiotensin II Receptor in Late Pregnancy Increases Apoptosis of Myocardial Cells and Myocardial Susceptibility to Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Offspring Rats

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that offspring born to mothers preeclampsia (PE) are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular diseases after birth, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Angiotensin II receptor type 1 autoantibody (AT1-AA), an agonist acting via activation of the AT1 receptor, is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of both PE and fetal growth restriction. The aim of the present study was to confirm the hypothesis that prenatal AT1-AA exposure increases the heart susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in the offspring in an AT1-AA-induced animal model of PE, and determine whether or not the increase of maternal AT1-AA level is a factor contributing to sustained abnormalities of the heart structure during infancy. The hearts of 45-day-old offspring rats were studied using Langendorff preparation to determine the susceptibility of the heart to IRI. The results showed that the body weight of the maternal rats was not significantly different between the study and control groups, but the body weight of their offspring in AT1-AA group was decreased slightly at day 21 of gestational age, and at day 3 after birth. Although the heart weight index was not significantly affected at all ages examined, AT1-AA significantly increased the size of myocardial cells of the left ventricle (LV) at the age of 45 days. AT1-AA gained access to fetal circulation via the placenta and induced apoptosis of fetal myocardial cells. AT1-AA also significantly delayed recovery from IRI and affected the LV function of 45-day-old offspring. This was associated with a significant increase in IRI-induced LV myocardial infarct size. These results suggest that AT1-AA induced abnormal apoptosis of fetal myocardial cells during the fetal period and increased the cardiac susceptibility to IRI in adult offspring.     

Effects of Exercise and Zinc Supplementation on Cytokine Release in Young Wrestlers

The present study aims to examine the effect of zinc supplementation on the release of some cytokines in young wrestlers actively involved in wrestling. A total of 40 male subjects of the same age group were included in the study: half were wrestlers and the other half were not involved in sports. The subjects were equally divided into four groups and treated during an 8-week period as follows: group 1, zinc-supplemented athletes; group 2, non-supplemented athletes; group 3, zinc-supplemented sedentary subjects, and group 4, non-supplemented sedentary group. Blood samples were taken from each subject at the beginning and at the end of the study period. The serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interpheron-γ levels (IFN-γ) were determined using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. At the beginning of the study, there were no significant differences of the measured parameters between the four study groups. At the end of the study, the levels of TNF-α, IL-2, and IFN-γ were significantly higher in the two zinc-supplemented groups compared to those that did not receive supplementation, regardless of the activity status (p < 0.01).     

Regulation of Zinc Transporter 1 Expression in Dorsal Horn of Spinal Cord After Acute Spinal Cord Injury of Rats by Dietary Zinc

Zinc concentrations in the dorsal horn of spinal cord are important for wound healing, neurological function, and reproduction. However, the response of the spinal cord to alterations in dietary zinc is unknown in rats after spinal cord injury (SCI). The current study explored cellular zinc levels and zinc transporter 1 (ZnT1) expression in the dorsal horn of spinal cord with different dietary zinc after SCI. A hundred and forty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham-operated group (30?mg Zn/kg), zinc-high dietary SCI model group (ZH, 180?mg Zn/kg), zinc-adequate dietary SCI model group (30?mg Zn/kg), and marginal zinc-deficient dietary SCI model group (MZD, 5?mg Zn/kg). To test the hypothesis that dietary zinc may regulate role of ZnT1 expression in dorsal horn after acute SCI, we traced ZnT1 proteins and zinc ions with immunohistochemistry, western blot, and autometallography. Zinc and ZnT1 levels of the dorsal horn in ZH significantly increased after surgery (P?<?0.05), reached peak level (P?<?0.05) on the seventh day, and subsequently levels of their expression began to decrease. But zinc levels and ZnT1 expression of spinal cord in MZD dietary groups decreased (P?<?0.05) in SCI. There was a positive correlation between ZnT1 protein and zinc content in spinal cord (R?=?0.49880, P?=?0.0492). We found that both zinc and ZnT1 expressions in spinal cord are regulated by dietary zinc. These results indicate that dietary zinc may regulate the expression of ZnT1 in the dorsal horn of spinal cord after SCI. ZnT1 may, at the same time, play a significant role in the maintenance of zinc homeostasis in SCI.