Neuroprotective effect of regional carnitine on spinal cord ischemia--reperfusion injury.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of regional infusion of carnitine on spinal cord ischemia--reperfusion (I--R) in rabbits.


METHODS
The 36 rabbits were divided into four equal groups, group I (sham operated, no I--R injury), group II (control, only I--R), group III (I--R+intraaortic lactated Ringer's, LR, during aortic occlusion), group IV (I--R+LR plus 100mg/kg carnitine). Spinal cord ischemia was induced by clamping the aorta both below the left renal artery and above the aortic bifurcation. The spinal cord function of all animals was assessed clinically 24h after aortic declamping. Spinal cord samples were taken to measure the levels of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and to evaluate the histopathological changes.


RESULTS
We found significant increases in the levels of MDA in groups II and III compared with group I (P<0.01), and elevation of MDA in group IV was insignificant. In group II, all animals (100%) were paraplegic with Tarlov's score of 0 and in group III, eight animals (88%) were paraplegic with Tarlov's score of 0 or 1. None of the animals (0%) from group IV was paraplegic. Histologic examination of spinal cords from group IV animals revealed that the appearance of the spinal cord was relatively preserved, whereas spinal cords from groups II and III had evidence of acute neuronal injury.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that regional infusion of carnitine during aortic clamping reduces spinal cord injury and prevents neurologic damage in rabbit spinal cord I--R model.
Rahman
A
A
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Firat Medical Centre, Firat University, Elaziğ, Turkey. alirahman33@hotmail.com
Ustündag
B
B
Burma
O
O
Ozercan
I H
IH
Erol
F S
FS
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000209:etiology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002331:Carnitine