LEUKEMIA INHIBITORY FACTOR (LIF) PRODUCTION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF SPINAL TRAUMA

model of spinal trauma was developed where spinal neurones of adult mi ce were exposed to the excitotoxic glutamate analogue beta-N-oxylamino -L-alanine (L-BOAA). After 24 h, the injured neurones received a singl e dose of [I-125]-LIF at the same site of the spinal cord, and 2 h lat er, tissues were removed to assess the distribution of leukaemia inhib itory factor (LIF). There was a significant increase in LIF binding to the injured region of the spinal cord over saline controls, and this corresponded with a significant increase in LIF mRNA expression in the same region of the cord. There was a change in the expression of cili ary neurotrophic factor, but the expression of cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) and the common receptor subunit LIF receptor beta (LIFR beta) did not change after neurotoxin treatment, The results add to the evidence tha t LIF plays a significant role in the response of adult neuronal tissu e to injury, (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. AII rights reserve d.