AIM: To investigate whether traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) induces changes of gene expression of heparinbinding growth-associated molecule (HB-GAM). METHODS: In a spinal cord transection model, HB-GAM expression and cellular localization were examined using Northe blot, RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double-labeling methods. RESULTS: HB-GAM mRNA was significantly upregulated in spinal cord tissues rostral and caudal to the injury at 7 d after SCI. HB-GAM gene expression was markedly increased at 3 d,peaked at 7 d, and declined to the baseline level at 28 d post-injury. During its peak expression, HB-GAM was colocalized in astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons in spinal cord tissues within 7 mm from the site of spinal transection. CONCLUSION: SCI induces HB-GAM expression at both mRNA and protein levels in areas close to the injury. Both neurons and glial cells expressed HB-GAM implying that HB-GAM played a role in the process of injury and/or repair following SCI.