Temporal transcriptomic dynamics in rat spinal cord after tibial fracture unveil crosstalk between spinal cord and bone

Spinal cord injury induces progressive bone loss and increases fracture susceptibility. While the neurological consequences of skeletal trauma remain poorly characterized, underlying molecular mechanisms require systematic investigation. To systematically characterize the temporal dynamics of spinal cord responses, L4-L5 spinal segments were harvested from Sprague-Dawley rats at 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days post-fracture for RNA sequencing (Illumina platform). Integrated bioinformatics analyses revealed temporally stratified differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate the expression of key genes. Transcriptomic changes peaked at 3 days and 7 days post-fracture. By day 14, transcriptomic signatures shifted toward synaptic plasticity-related pathways. DEGs were substantially reduced by day 28. Key genes (PCP4 and RICTOR) identified by bioinformatics were validated via qRT-PCR, confirming their temporal expression patterns. This study elucidates temporal dynamics of spinal cord transcriptomic remodeling post-fracture, establishing a foundation for understanding neuro-osseous cross-talk during bone healing.