Abstract: Objective Multiple sclerosis(MS) is a common autoimmune neurodegenerative disease,which results in demyelination and axonal degeneration in brain and spinal cord.Recent studies have revealed that axonal loss is a major cause of permanent neurological and clinical disability.In the present study,the effect of on growth-associated protein-43(GAP-43) and microtubule-associated protein-2(MAP-2) expression in brain tissues of rat animal models of MS,namely experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis(EAE) was observed.Methods The experimental rat postpeds were injected with antigen containing myelin basic protein(MBP) and Complete Freund's Adjuvant(CFA) with prednisone as control.The pathological changes in brain and spinal cord of rats were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining and the injury of axon were observed by silver staining and immunohistochemistry method after the rat models were made 14 and 28 days late.Results It showed that there were abundant inflammatory cells infiltrating the cerebral and spinal cord tissues in EAE rats and sleeves formed around veins.Some of the nuclei of neuron were pyknotic The axons were damaged and the expressions of GAP-43 and MAP-2 in EAE model group were significantly less than those in normal control group(P<0.05 or P<0.01).The inflammatory cells in foci comparatively decreased,sleeve-like changes were seldom seen,and the injuries of axons were reduced by treating with formulae or prednisone in EAE rats,Both in GAP-43 and MAP-2 expressions were increased significantly in groups treated with Zuo Gui and You Gui Pill(P<0.05 or 0.01) compared with the untreated group,especially in rats treated with Zuo Gui Pill.Conclusion These results suggest that the can reduce the pathological reaction and increase the expressions of GAP-43 and MAP-2,thus promotes axon reconstruction and enhances its function.

Key words: kidney-tonifying prescription, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis, axon injury