Changes of free iron contents and its correlation with lipid peroxidation after experimental spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To observe the dynamic changes of free iron contents and its relationship to the changes of lipid peroxidation after experimental spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (n=6) received no operation; Group B (n=48) received only laminectomy (sham); and Group C (n=48) received both laminectomy and traumatic injury (SCI model). The SCI animal models were made by using an modified Allen's weight-drop device (50 g.cm) on T(12). Rats were sacrificed at 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 hours after injury. The levels of free iron involved in spinal cord segments at different time points were measured by bleomycin assay. The malondialdehyde (MDA) was also measured by the thiobarbituric acid (TBA).


RESULTS
After SCI in Group C, the level of free iron showed a significant increase at 0.5 hour compared to Groups B and A, restored to the control level at 6 h; the level of MDA was increased at 0.5 hour, peaked at 3 hours, returned to the control level at 12 hours; the concentrations of free iron and lipid peroxidation in injured rats were significantly and positively correlated at 0.5-3 hours.


CONCLUSIONS
After SCI the levels of free iron are increased quickly and might be a major contributor to lipid peroxidation in injured spinal cord.
Department of Orthopedics, Changzhou No.2 Hospital affiliated Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, China. zjljb@163.com
Jin-bo
JB
Liu
Tian-si
TS
Tang
De-sheng
DS
Xiao
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism*
D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007501:Iron