Objective To study the effects on nerve growth factor and nerve growth factor receptor in serum and tissue of rabbits exposed to vibration by hind legs.
Methods Thirty-two New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three experimental groups (low-dose, middle-dose, and high-dose) and one control group. The experimental groups were tested with vibration intensities of (4-hour energy equivalent frequency-weighted acceleration) 4.33 m/s2 (low-dose group), 8.67 m/s2 (middle-dose group), and 17.34 m/s2 (high-dose group), respectively. The control group was only exposed to noise at the same sound level as the middle-dose group. The concentrations of nerve growth factor and its receptor in serum and tissue were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay after vibration test.
Results Compared with the control group, the concentrations of nerve growth factor in serum and tissue increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), and the concentrations of nerve growth factor receptor in tissue increased significantly in the middle-dose group and the highdose group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion Vibration by hind legs could result in concentrations increment of nerve growth factor and nerve growth factor receptor in serum and tissue, which may be related to nervous impairment induced by vibration.