title: Treatment of mammalian spinal cord injury with antioxidants.
abstract: After spinal cord injury, two groups of cats were treated with a combination of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MP, 35 mg/kg) and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA, 350 mg/kg), and guanabenz acetate (0.65 mg/kg). Guanabenz acetate was administered twice daily for 8 weeks. In the first group, the treatment significantly increased blood flow in the abdominal aorta. All cats treated with guanabenz acetate 3 hr after spinal cord contusion had return of micturition and none suffered complete paraplegia. Four animals had partial and the other four had complete motor recovery. A superoxide (O2-.) generating system, horseradish peroxidase, decreased [14C]gamma amino butyric acid uptake by mouse cortical slices by 33% but when superoxide dismutase was added to the medium, the uptake was reduced by only 9%. The nerve endings were also protected by superoxide dismutase from morphologic damage by O2-. as observed by electron microscopy. The agents used in these studies produce their ameliorating effects by virtue of their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and membrane stabilizing properties, and enhancing the regional microcirculation. In addition to having these properties, guanabenz acetate is also an alpha 2 adrenoceptor agonist.
authors.affiliation: New York University Medical Center, Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, NY 10016.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Naftchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001001:Anura; D002415:Cats; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects; D005609:Free Radicals; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid