The effects of prophylactic zinc and melatonin application on experimental spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits: experimental study.
METHODS
Experimental study.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the neuroprotective effects of zinc and melatonin on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injuries of rabbits.


METHODS
The Experimental Research Centre of Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey.


METHODS
Twenty-four male rabbits underwent spinal cord ischemia by clamping the thoraco-abdominal aorta for 20 min. Twenty minutes before the aortic clamping, animals received zinc, melatonin or a combination of both. Neurological examination of the animals was performed three times during reperfusion period. The animals were killed 24 h after reperfusion. Spinal cord samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological evaluation.


RESULTS
Pre-treated animals with zinc, melatonin or combination displayed better neurological outcomes than the I/R group (P<0.05). Zinc, melatonin and combined treatment prevented spinal cord injury by reducing apoptosis rate (P<0.05) and preserving intact ganglion cell numbers (P<0.05). Zinc pre-treatment protected spinal cord by preventing malondialdehyde (MDA) formation (P=0.002), increasing glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (P=0.002) and decreasing xanthine oxidase enzyme activity (P=0.026) at molecular level. Melatonin treatment also resulted with MDA formation (P=0.002), increased GPx activity (P=0.002) and decreased xanthine oxidase activity (P=0.026).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study showed that prophylactic zinc and melatonin use in spinal cord I/R not only suppressed lipid peroxidation by activating antioxidant systems but also had significant neuroprotective effects by specifically improving the neurological and histopathological situation.
Kalkan
E
E
Department of Neurosurgery, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.
Ciçek
O
O
Unlü
A
A
Abuşoglu
S
S
Kalkan
S S
SS
Avunduk
M C
MC
Baysefer
A
A
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008550:Melatonin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000975:Antioxidants; D014131:Trace Elements; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D015032:Zinc; D008550:Melatonin