title: Neuroprotective effect of oleuropein following spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oleuropein (OE) is a well-known antioxidant polyphenol from olive oil. The purpose of this study was to determine the potential neuroprotective effects of oleuropein in an experimental spinal cord injury model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly  divided into four groups of 21 rats each as follows: sham-operated group, trauma group, and OE treatment groups (20 mg/kg, i.p., immediately and 1 hour after spinal cord injury). Spinal cord samples were taken 24 hours after injury and studied for determination of malondialdehyde and glutathione  levels, histopathological assessment, immunohistochemistry of Bax and Bcl-2, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling reaction. Behavioral testing was performed weekly up to 6 weeks post-injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that malondialdehyde levels  were significantly decreased, and glutathione levels were significantly increased in OE treatment groups. Greater Bcl-2 and attenuated Bax expression could be detected in the OE-treated rats. OE significantly reduced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling-positive  reaction and improved behavioral function than the trauma group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that OE may be effective in protecting rat spinal cord from secondary injury.
authors.affiliation: Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran. khalat90@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ali Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Khalatbary
authors.forename: Hassan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmadvand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011714:Pyrans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D057888:Iridoid Glucosides; D039823:Iridoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011714:Pyrans; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C002769:oleuropein; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005978:Glutathione