title: Antiapoptotic and neuroprotective effects of mycophenolate   mofetil after acute spinal cord injury in young rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of mycophenolate mofetil in comparison with methylprednisolone in an experimental model of spinal cord injury in young rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young female Wistar albino rats weighing 100-120 g were used in this study. The animals were anesthetized, the paravertebral muscles were dissected to expose thoracic spinal nerve 7 (T7)-T11 vertebrae, and the spinal cord was exposed at T8-T10 levels by laminectomy with the assistance of a surgical microscope. Weight-drop trauma model was used to perform spinal cord trauma. The animals were subjected to an impact of 50 g/cm to the dorsal surface of the spinal cord. The animals were divided into six groups, and all the groups include 12 animals. Group 1 laminectomy, group 2 laminectomy+ trauma, group 3 was treated with mycophenolate mofetil, group 4 was treated with methylprednisolone, group 5 was treated with mycophenolate mofetil+methylprednisolone, and group 6 served as a vehicle. Immediately after the trauma, 25 mg/kg mycophenolate mofetil (to group 3 and 5) and 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone (to group 4 and 5) were given in a single dose. Biochemical, behavioral, pathological, and immunohistochemical analysis were done.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decrease in the number of apoptotic cells were detected in the lesion zone 24 h after the spinal cord injury with the mycophenolate mofetil treatment group. Histologic and functional recovery was also significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that the administration of mycophenolate mofetil on traumatic spinal cord injury decreases apoptosis and improves neurologic recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. burcak@tr.net
authors.forename: Burcak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bilginer
authors.forename: Mehmet Bulent
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Onal
authors.forename: Firat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Narin
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ustun
authors.forename: Kamer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kilinc
authors.forename: Nejat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Akalan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007796:Laminectomy; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D050050:Protein Carbonylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D008775:Methylprednisolone