The effects of taxol, methylprednisolone, and 4-aminopyridine in compressive spinal cord injury: a qualitative experimental study.
BACKGROUND
Taxol is a diterpene alkaloid that stimulates tubulin production in cells. It may be effective in preserving the cytoskeleton of spinal cord axons after injury.


METHODS
Thirty-nine rats were submitted to spinal cord compression. The animals were divided into three groups that received taxol (18.75 mg/m2), methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg), or 4-aminopyridine (1 mg/kg). Taxol was administered as one dose immediately after injury and two additional doses on days 14 and 21. Methylprednisolone was given as a single injection immediately postinjury. Four-aminopyridine was administered on days 25, 26, and 27. A group of nine injured animals served as a control without any treatment. Evoked potentials were recorded before, during, and 4 weeks postinjury. Behavioral tests were measured to evaluate recovery of motor function.


RESULTS
The taxol and methylprednisolone-treated animals demonstrated a significant improvement in comparison with the control group. No functional improvement was found at 1 mg/kg treatment of 4-aminopyridine in rats.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that taxol and methylprednisolone given shortly after the compression injury improve functional outcome after an incomplete spinal cord injury.
Perez-Espejo
M A
MA
Division of Neurosurgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, USA.
Haghighi
S S
SS
Adelstein
E H
EH
Madsen
R
R
D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D017239:Paclitaxel; D008775:Methylprednisolone