Systemic administration of atorvastatin improves locomotor functions and hyperacute-acute response after experimental spinal cord injury: an ultrastructural and biochemical analysis.
OBJECTIVE
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by posttraumatic inflammatory cascades including excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Agents against neuroinflammation are the current scope of studies on experimental SCI with promising results.


METHODS
Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-320 gram were used. They were randomized and divided into four groups with eight animals in each as sham, control, SCI+PEG (polyethylene glycol) and SCI+atorvastatin group. Rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) and SCI was induced by the weight-drop model. A single level laminectomy was performed at T10 and the spinal column was immobilized with a stereotactic device. Rats in the treatment group received ip atorvastatin at 0.2 mg/kg. Neurological impairments were examined through Modified Tarlov's and inclined angle scores. The SCI section was resected for electron-microscopic analysis, IL-1β and IL-6 level. All data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnet T3 test.


RESULTS
Atorvastatin improved locomotor recovery after rat SCI. The results were further confirmed with a statistically significant decrease of IL-1β, IL-6 and lipid peroxide levels. This finding revealed the anti-inflammatory and beneficial effect of atorvastatin on rat SCI.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study focused on both B and T cell mediated immunity and confirmed the beneficial effect of atorvastatin with decreased expressions of IL-1β and IL-6.
Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey.
Osman Arikan
OA
Nacar
Hakan
H
Eroglu
Nuri Eralp
NE
Cetinalp
Guner
G
Menekse
Ali Erdem
AE
Yildirim
Ozhan Merzuk
OM
Uckun
Ergun
E
Daglioglu
Omer Faruk
OF
Turkoglu
Ahmet Deniz
AD
Belen
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D011758:Pyrroles; D000069059:Atorvastatin