Combined effects of intravenous perfluorocarbon emulsion and oxygen breathing on decompression-induced spinal cord injury in rats.
The spinal cord is one of the most commonly affected sites in decompression sickness (DCS). Alternative methods have long been sought to protect against DCS spinal cord dysfunction, especially when hyperbaric treatment is unavailable. Use of perfluorocarbon (PFC) emulsion with or without oxygen breathing has shown survival benefits in DCS animal models. The effectiveness of intravenous PFC emulsion with oxygen breathing on spinal cord function was studied. Somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPs) and histologic examination were chosen to serve as measures. After fast decompression (203 kPa/minute) from 709 kPa (for 60 minutes), male Sprague-Dawley rats randomly received: 1) air and saline; 2) oxygen (O2) and saline; 3) O2 and PFC emulsion. The incidence and average number of abnormal SSEP waves in survival animals that received O2 and PFC emulsion were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Foci of demyelination, necrosis and round non-staining defects in white matter regions of the spinal cord could be found in severe DCS rats. We concluded that administration of PFC emulsion combined with oxygen breathing was beneficial for DCS spinal conductive dysfunction in rats.
Department of Diving Medicine, Faculty of Naval Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
Rong-Jia
RJ
Zhang
Kan
K
Liu
Zhi-Min
ZM
Kang
Dan-Feng
DF
Fan
Xiao-Xiao
XX
Ni
Yun
Y
Liu
Qing-Lin
QL
Lian
Xue-Jun
XJ
Sun
Heng-Yi
HY
Tao
Wei-Gang
WG
Xu
D000818:Animals; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000150:complications*; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D004655:Emulsions; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons