Time-dependent Expression of MT1A mRNA and MT2A mRNA in the Contused Skeletal Muscle of Rats.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the time-dependent expression of metallothionein （MT） 1A mRNA and MT2A mRNA in contused skeletal muscle of rats.

METHODS: A total of 54 Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this study. The rats were divided into two parts: control group （ n =6） and contusion groups （0.5, 1, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h after contusion, n =6）. Total RNA was extracted from skeletal muscle. The expression levels of MT1A mRNA and MT2A mRNA were detected by SYBR Green I real-time PCR.

RESULTS: The expression trends of the two potential marker genes were related to wound age. In addition to 0.5 h, there were significant contrasts between the control group and contused group （ P <0.05）, about the expression levels of MT1A mRNA and MT2A mRNA in different phases. As the extension of wound age, the relative expression of MT1A mRNA and MT2A mRNA at 1 h, 6 h, 12 h and 18 h after contusion demonstrated upgrade tendency until its expression levels in 18 h peak with 239.41±15.20 and 717.42±50.76, respectively. When time extends to 24 h after injury, the expression of above two marks decreased, respectively. The MT1A mRNA and MT2A mRNA expression levels increased at 30 h and then decreased.

CONCLUSIONS: Determination of MT1A mRNA and MT2A mRNA levels by real-time PCR may be useful for the estimation of wound age.