Metoprolol treatment decreases tissue myeloperoxidase activity after spinal cord injury in rats.
Neutrophil infiltration has been reported to play an important role in spinal cord injury (SCI). In addition to their cardioprotective effects, beta-blockers have been found to have neuroprotective effects on the central nervous system, but their effect on SCI has not yet been studied. In the current study, we investigated the effect of metoprolol on myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, a marker of neutrophil activation, in the spinal cord after experimental SCI in rats. Rats were divided into six groups: controls received only laminectomy and spinal cord samples were taken immediately; the sham operated group received laminectomy, and spinal cord samples were taken 4h after laminectomy; the trauma only group underwent a 50g/cm contusion injury but received no medication; and three other groups underwent trauma as for the trauma group, and received 30mg/kg methylprednisolone, 1mg/kg metoprolol, or 1mL saline, respectively. All the medications were given intraperitoneally as single doses, immediately after trauma. Spinal cord samples were taken 4h after trauma and studied for MPO activity. The results showed that tissue MPO activity increased after injury. Both metoprolol and methylprednisolone treatments decreased MPO activity, indicating a reduction in neutrophil infiltration in damaged tissue. The effect of metoprolol on MPO activity was found to be similar to methylprednisolone. In view of these data, we conclude that metoprolol may be effective in protecting rat spinal cord from secondary injury.
Beril Gok
H
H
Department of Neurological Surgery, Ankara Ataturk Research and Education Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Solaroglu
Ihsan
I
Okutan
Ozerk
O
Cimen
Behzat
B
Kaptanoglu
Erkan
E
Palaoglu
Selcuk
S
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009195:Peroxidase; D008790:Metoprolol; D008775:Methylprednisolone