The long-term effects of pre-treatment with activated protein C in a rat model of compression-induced spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
Recently, we demonstrated that activated protein C (APC) can lessen the severity of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats during the acute and subacute phases. The purpose of the present study is to determine the long-term effects of pre-treatment with APC following SCI in rats.


METHODS
The motor function of rats was assessed using the inclined-plane test during 8 weeks after SCI, and the grid runway test 7 weeks after the trauma. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs), brainstem-derived motor evoked potentials (B-MEPs) and corticomotor evoked potentials (CMEPs) were used to quantify axonal function 8 weeks after SCI. Morphometric analysis of the spinal cord lesion was carried out to determine lesion size. Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to either APC (25 IU/kg) or saline group and then subjected to 20 g compression injury of the spinal cord for 20 min at T12. The sham group (n=6) received laminectomy alone.


RESULTS
APC significantly reduced the motor disturbances and electrophysiological impairments induced by SCI. APC-treated animals also showed a trend towards a reduction in lesion size. However, this change, was not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-treatment with APC attenuates the harmful effects of SCI not only during the acute and subacute phases but also in the chronic stage.
Taoka
Y
Y
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Experimental and Clinical Traumatology, Donaueschingenstrasse 13, A-1200 Vienna, Austria.
Schlag
M G
MG
Hopf
R
R
Redl
H
H
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011486:Protein C / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D011486:Protein C