Can dantrolene protect spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury? An experimental study.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the possible protective effect of dantrolene on neuronal injury induced by aortic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).


METHODS
Nineteen rabbits were divided into three groups: sham (group 1, n = 5, no I/R), control (group 2, n = 7, only I/R) and dantrolene (group 3, n = 7, dantrolene + I/R). Abdominal aortic occlusion between the renal arteries and iliac bifurcations was carried out for 30 min. The spinal cord functions of the subjects were assessed using the Tarlov Scale. Blood and cord tissue samples were taken for biochemical and histopathological evaluation.


RESULTS
Tarlov scores in group 3 were significantly higher than in group 2 ( P < 0.05). In group 3, the MDA levels of the spinal cord decreased significantly compared to those of group 2 ( P < 0.05). In rabbits with I/R (group 2), the GSH levels of the spinal cord decreased significantly compared to those of group 1 ( P < 0.01), but dantrolene pretreatment significantly prevented a decrease in GSH levels. Histopathological examination showed that group 3 had less vascular proliferation, hemorrhage, edema and neuron loss than group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
It was concluded that dantrolene applied after ischemia might help protect the spinal cord against ischemia/reperfusion injury.
Kocogullari
C U
CU
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Afyon Kocatepe University Medical Faculty, Afyon, Turkey. cevdetkoc@hotmail.com
Emmiler
M
M
Cemek
M
M
Sahin
O
O
Aslan
A
A
Ayva
E
E
Tur
L
L
Buyukokuroglu
M E
ME
Demirkan
I
I
Cekirdekci
A
A
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003250:Constriction; D003620:Dantrolene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D000975:Antioxidants; D015415:Biomarkers; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003620:Dantrolene; D005978:Glutathione