title: Effects of COX-2 and iNOS inhibitors alone or in combination with olfactory ensheathing cell grafts after spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  We studied the effects of inhibitors of COX-2 (NS398) and iNOS (aminoguanidine) alone or in combination with olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) grafts after spinal cord injury in the rat.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the role exerted by COX-2 and iNOS after spinal cord injury and an OEC transplant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  COX-2 and iNOS exert a detrimental effect after spinal cord injury. In contrast, OECs grafted into the injured spinal cord mediate neuroprotection and also promote the up-regulation of COX-2 and iNOS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Photochemical injury was induced at T8 spinal cord segment. Rats received local injection of OECs (n = 15) or vehicle (DMEM; n = 15). Six subgroups of rats (n = 5 rats each) were given NS398 (DM-NS; OEC-NS), aminoguanidine (DM-AG; OEC-AG), or saline (DM-SS; OEC-SS). Locomotor ability, pain sensibility, tissue sparing, and density of blood vessels were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two weeks following injury, motor skills and nociceptive response were significantly higher in DM-NS and DM-AG than in DM-SS rats. The area of preserved spinal cord parenchyma was higher in treated animals than in those given saline. In contrast, functional outcome, tissue sparing, and density of blood vessels were lower in OEC-NS and OEC-AG than in OEC-SS animals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that, although COX-2 and iNOS exert a detrimental role after spinal cord injury, they may play an important role in the neuroprotective mechanisms induced by OEC grafts after spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Group of Neuroplasticity and Regeneration Group, Institute of Neuroscience and Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Rubèn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: López-Vales
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Alías
authors.forename: Monica S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Guzmán-Lenis
authors.forename: Joaquim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forés
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.forename: Enrique
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verdú
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006146:Guanidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009068:Movement; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000637:transplantation; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009578:Nitrobenzenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology / Q000637:transplantation*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae
chemical_list: D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D006146:Guanidines; D009578:Nitrobenzenes; D013449:Sulfonamides; C080955:N-(2-cyclohexyloxy-4-nitrophenyl)methanesulfonamide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; C004479:pimagedine