[Preliminary study of the effects of high-dose Vitamin C on acute spinal cord injury in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the therapeutic effect of high-dose Vitamin C on acute spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.


METHODS
Forty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups (A, B, C), and SCI was made by Allen's Mode (7 g x 4 cm) on spinal cord T11 extradurally. Half an hour after SCI, the rats of groups A and B were given methylprednosolone (30 mg/kg, i.p.) and Vitamin C (200 mg/kg, i.p.) respectively. The rats of Group C recevied normal saline i.p. only. The results of hematoxylin staining+Olsiwski corpuscle staining and the moisture of spinal cord 48 h after SCI were observed. Inclined plate and Gale scale were observed 2 weeks after SCI.


RESULTS
In both group A and group B, there was less scope of neuro-necrosis and bleeding, less degree of hydrops and more Olsiwski corpuscle count in neure of injured areas 48 h after injury, and much better behavioral assessment (inclined plate+Gale scale) 2 weeks after injury in comparison with those in group C (P<0.05), while there were no diffferences between group A and group B statistically (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Early administration of high-dose Vitamin C is effective for treating SCI, but its effectiveness is not superior to that of high-dose methylprednisolone.
Liao
Jing-wu
JW
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Song
Yue-ming
YM
D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D008775:Methylprednisolone