title: Effects of montelukast and methylprednisolone on experimental spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The development of secondary brain injury after trauma is known to involve in many cellular mediators. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effects of the use of both methylprednisolone and montelukast on serum and tissue concentrations of NO, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and tissue glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  SCI was induced in Wistar albino rats by dropping a 10 g rod from a 5.0 cm height at T9-10. The 28 rats were randomly divided into four equal groups: montelukast, methylprednisolone, non-treatment and sham groups. Rats were neurologically tested at 24 hours after trauma and spinal cord tissue levels of MDA, SOD, GSH-PX, CAT levels and blood CK, CK-BB, LDH levels were measured. In addition, histopathological changes were also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in Tarlov scores in methylprednisolone and montelukast administered group compared to the trauma group (p = 0.001). When compared to trauma group, methylprednisolone and montelukast groups had significant differences in MDA (p < 0.05), SOD (p < 0.001), CK-BB (p < 0.001) and LDH (p < 0.05) levels. Histopathologically, no significant changes were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows effects of montelukast with biochemical and histopathological parameters and compares its effects with those of methylprednisolone for the first time. Our research has shown that montelukast and methylprednisolone have a neuroprotective effect on spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Aksaray State Hospital, Aksaray, Turkey. gokhanctf@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cavus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aras
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozgür
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Serarslan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sefil
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Ulutas
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D011804:Quinolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013440:Sulfides; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011804:Quinolines; D013440:Sulfides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D003402:Creatine Kinase; C093875:montelukast; D008775:Methylprednisolone