title: Effects of low-dose methotrexate in spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to evaluate the possible protective effects of low-dose methotrexate in the spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven Wistar albino rats were used in the present study. Except for the animals of the Sham group, all animals were divided into two main groups, which were used in acute and subacute stage investigations. Then, thoracal laminectomy was performed, and except for the Sham group, SCI was induced using a temporary aneurysm clip. After clip compression, the experimental material (methotrexate or methylprednisolone) was administered intraperitoneally, except in the Sham and Control groups. Then, the spinal cords were removed to evaluate the SCI histopathologically and biochemically at the scheduled date.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neither experimental material was shown to reduce the histopathological grade in either stage of SCI. Low-dose methotrexate was shown to decrease lipid peroxidation levels only in the subacute stage of SCI. However, methylprednisolone and low-dose methotrexate could not decrease or block myeloperoxidase enzyme activation in either stage of SCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose methotrexate was effective in reducing the lipid peroxidation levels in the subacute stage of SCI, although histopathological evaluation results and myeloperoxidase levels of all groups did not support this finding at either stage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Kırıkkale University Faculty of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey. bulentbanrs@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakar
authors.forename: Emine Arzu
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Köse
authors.forename: Sebnem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kupana Ayva
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sarkarati
authors.forename: Mustafa Omür
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Kasımcan
authors.forename: Kamer
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kılınç
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009195:Peroxidase; D008727:Methotrexate