title: Limaprost alfadex, a prostaglandin E1 derivative, prevents deterioration of forced exercise capability in rats with chronic compression of the spinal cord.
abstract: METHODS
  Basic animal research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is a common condition among elderly and often treated by surgery. To explore possibility of pharmacologic treatment, limaprost alfadex, a prostaglandin E1 derivative with vasodilatory and antiplatelet action, was tried in a rat chronic spinal cord compression model.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Limaprost increased the blood flow of cauda equina and improved motor functions in animal models of lumbar stenosis. The drug is clinically used to treat neurogenic intermittent claudication.
  
  
  METHODS
  : Forty-two rats were allocated to four groups: (A) sham operation without permanent cord compression, given 5 mL/kg of distilled water twice a day (n = 6); (B) sham operation, receiving 300 μg/kg limaprost twice a day (n = 6); (C) cord compression, receiving the vehicle (n = 15); and (D) cord compression receiving the drug (n = 15). A thin polyurethane sheet that expands by absorbing water was implanted under the C5-C6 laminae to produce cord compression. For sham operation, the sheet was immediately removed. Exercise tests were repeated on a rotating treadmill until 26 weeks after surgery, and then the animals were killed and the spinal cord harvested for motor neurons counts. RESULTS.: Treadmill endurance (seconds, mean ± standard error of mean) 2 weeks after surgery was 497.7 ± 2.3, 434.5 ± 65.5, 423.1 ± 33.0, and 480.5 ± 19.5 in groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. At 26th week, the duration was 497.7 ± 2.3, 421.2 ± 78.8, 21.3 ± 11.7, and 441.3 ± 40.4 (P < 0.0001 for the decrease in C group, multivariate analysis of variance with correction for multiple measures.) The motor neuron counts were 38.3 ± 3.6, 38.2 ± 2.6, 32.6 ± 1.9, and 36.2 ± 2.3 in groups A, B, C, and D (P = 0.34), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limaprost alfadex prevented decline of forced locomotion capability in rats with chronic compression of the cervical cord.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan. ryukurokaw@aol.com
authors.forename: Ryu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nagayama
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Phyo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055009:Spondylosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D047391:alpha-Cyclodextrins; C525749:limaprost-alfadex; D000527:Alprostadil