BYHWD rescues axotomized neurons and promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury in rats

Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BYHWD), a Chinese prescription that has been used for hundreds of years to treat paralysis, has gained attention recently due to its significant neuroprotective properties. This study was to investigate whether BYHWD treatment protected axotomized rubrospinal neurons (RN) following spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Adult rats received a right lateral funiculus transection at the level between C3 and C4, and were either treated with BYHWD or with distilled water (DW) via gastrogavage. Effects on RN viability and atrophy were determined by Nissl staining, axon regeneration was examined by biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) tracing techniques and functional recovery was studied by a test of forelimb usage during spontaneous vertical exploration. RN cell number and mean somal size were 20% and 29% higher, respectively, in BYHWD-treated rats relative to DW-treated rats. There were a small number of BDA-labeled axons in the caudal of injury site in BYHWD-treated rats, whereas no caudal axonal regeneration was detected in DW-treated rats. BYHWD-treated rats used the injured forelimb more often than rats treated with DW. These results indicate that administration of BYHWD following SCI protects injured neurons, promotes regeneration, and enhances functional recovery.