title: Evaluation of topical application and systemic administration of rosuvastatin in preventing epidural fibrosis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidural fibrosis is a major challenge in spine surgery, with some patients having recurrent symptoms secondary to excessive formation of scar tissue resulting in neurologic compression. One of the most important factors initiating the epidural fibrosis is assumed to be the transforming growth factor-1β (TGF-1β). Rosuvastatin (ROS) has shown to demonstrate preventive effects over fibrosis via inhibiting the TGF-1β.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that ROS might have preventive effects over epidural fibrosis through the inhibition of TGF-1β pathways.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental animal study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight adult male Wistar Albino rats were equally and randomly divided into four groups (laminectomy, spongostan, topical ROS, and systemic ROS). Laminectomy was performed at the L3 level in all rats. Four weeks later, the extent of epidural fibrosis was assessed both macroscopically and histopathologically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our data revealed that topical application and systemic administration of ROS both were effective in reducing epidural fibrosis formation. Furthermore, the systemic administration of ROS yielded better results than topical application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both topical application and systemic administration of ROS show meaningful preventive effects over epidural fibrosis through multiple mechanisms. The results of our study provide the first experimental evidence of the preventive effects of ROS over epidural fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, 34752, Ataşehir, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: boragurer@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bora
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gürer
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health, Kirikkale Yüksek Ihtisas Hospital, Baglarbasi mh. Lokman Hekim cd., Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kahveci
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Turgut Ozal University, Ayvali mh., Gazze cd., No:7 Etlik, Kecioren, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre Cemal
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Gökçe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health, Kirikkale Yüksek Ihtisas Hospital, Baglarbasi mh. Lokman Hekim cd., Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ozevren
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Irfan Bastug cd., Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Turkoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Ministry of Health, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Irfan Bastug cd., Diskapi, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gökçe
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004824:Epidural Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal; D007796:Laminectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium
keywords: Epidural fibrosis; Laminectomy; Rat; Rosuvastatin; Systemic; Topical