Cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector may take part in neuronal apoptosis of the lumbar spinal cord after sciatic nerve injury caused by a firearm.

Objective: To investigate neuronal apoptosis and gene regulation after peripheral nerve injury caused by a firearm.

Methods: A rabbit model of sciatic nerve injury caused by a firearm was used. Neuronal apoptosis was determined by using terminal transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling and flow cytometry. Differentially expressed genes were screened with mouse_8192S GeneChips. Cell death-inducing DFF45-like effector (CIDE-B) gene expression in spinal cord after sciatic nerve injury was detected with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The size of the injury caused by the firearm was widely extended. Neuronal apoptosis was found in days 1, 3, and 7 groups. The expression of apoptosis-related gene CIDE-B was high according to analysis of the GeneChips and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction detection. The trend of CIDE-B expression was consistent with neuronal apoptosis after nerve injury.

Conclusions: Neuronal apoptosis is an important pathological change after peripheral nerve injury caused by firearms, and CIDE-B may be an important regulator.