Neuroprotective effect of the proanthocyanidin-rich fraction in experimental model of spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we evaluated the effect of the proanthocyanidins-rich fraction (PRF) obtained from Croton celtidifolius bark in an experimental animal model of spinal cord injury and cell death induced by glutamate.


METHODS
Experiments were conducted using adult male Wistar rats (10 weeks old and weighing 270-300g). Experimental groups were randomly allocated into the following groups: spinal cord injury (SCI) + vehicle group: rats were subjected to SCI plus intraperitoneal administration of vehicle (saline 10 ml/kg); SCI + PRF: rats were subjected to SCI plus intraperitoneal administration of PRF (10 mg/kg) at 1 and 6 h after injury and sham operated.


RESULTS
The treatment with the proanthocyanidin-rich fraction significantly improved not only motor recovery and grip force but also H2 O2 or glutamate-induced cell death and reactive oxygen species generation induced by glutamate in dorsal root ganglion cells. In this study we demonstrate that the neuroprotective effect triggered by the proanthocyanidins-rich fraction appears to be mediated in part by the inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate-type glutamate receptors.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our results demonstrate that PRF treatment ameliorates spinal cord injury and glutamatergic excitotoxicity and could have a potential therapeutic use.
Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, SC, Brazil.
Lara Clemes
LC
Assis
Mariana Appel
MA
Hort
Gisele Volpato
GV
de Souza
Alessandra Cadete
AC
Martini
Stefânia
S
Forner
Daniel Fernandes
DF
Martins
Jenniffer Carolina
JC
Silva
Heros
H
Horst
Adair Roberto  Soares
AR
dos Santos
Moacir Geraldo
MG
Pizzolatti
Giles Alexander
GA
Rae
Janice
J
Koepp
Andreza Fabro
AF
de Bem
Rosa Maria Ribeiro
RM
do Valle
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D029802:Croton / Q000737:chemistry*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000975:Antioxidants; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018698:Glutamic Acid
Croton celtidifolius; excitotoxicity; proanthocyanidins-rich fraction; spinal cord injury