title: Effect of pretreatment with simvastatin on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the pretreatment effect of simvastatin on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were treated with oral simvastatin, 10 mg/kg (simvastatin group; n = 15) or saline (control group; n = 15) for 5 days before ischemia. Spinal cord ischemia was induced using a balloon-tipped catheter placed in the proximal descending aorta in the control and simvastatin groups, but not in the sham group (n = 15).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurologic function was assessed daily using the motor deficit index until 7 days after reperfusion. After the last neurologic evaluation, a histologic examination of the spinal cord was performed. At day 1 after reperfusion, the simvastatin group showed a significantly lower motor deficit index compared with the control group (2.0, 2.0-2.0, v 4.0, 3.5-5.0; p < 0.001). This trend was sustained at day 7 (2.0, 1.5-2.0, v 4.0, 3.0-4.0; p < 0.001). The simvastatin group displayed a significantly larger number of normal motor neurons compared with the control group (mean ± SD, 31.7 ± 6.1 v 20.4 ± 4.4; p < 0.001). However, compared with the sham group, the simvastatin group displayed fewer intact motor neurons (sham group, 38.5 ± 5.1; p = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pretreatment with simvastatin, 10 mg/kg, given orally for 5 days before the ischemia-reperfusion insult, improved the neurologic outcome and preserved more normal motor neurons compared with the control group in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital, Seongnamsi, Gyeonggido, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Jong In
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Sunghee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019821:Simvastatin