Therapeutic effects of disulfiram in spinal cord contusion of rabbits.
The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate methods to prevent the development of the immediate and delayed tissue damage in the injured spinal cord by early drug (disulfiram) interference with the molecular mechanism of tissue injury. The edematous inflammation as well as change in the levels and distribution of metallic ions like calcium following spinal cord contusion is known to contribute to the destructive process. A contusion model was applied in the spinal cord of rabbits using a pneumatic impactor. The effect of the systemically administered drug, disulfiram, in the traumatized spinal cord was determined by assaying the tissue water and Ca2+ contents at different locations of the spinal cord. A significant increase in the levels of the assayed parameters at the injured site of the spinal cord is markedly reduced by the pretreatment with disulfiram.
D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D003288:Contusions / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004221:Disulfiram / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005609:Free Radicals; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000032:analysis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*
D005609:Free Radicals; D002118:Calcium; D004221:Disulfiram