title: Neuroprotective effects of methylprednisolone and hypothermia after experimental spinal cord injury: a histopathological and stereological study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Spinal cord injury is a common trauma among severe accidents in which the spinal cord has been severed; intravenous methylprednisolone and hypothermia are widely used in the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injuries. However, no common consensus has been reached on therapeutic approaches to prevent and reduce disability caused by spinal cord injuries. In this study, the efficacy of methylprednisolone and hypothermia treatments after experimental spinal cord injury made by dynamic weight-drop model in rabbits was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  This experiment consists of three groups: injured, methylprednisolone-treated and hypothermia-treated groups. The methylprednisolone-treated group received intravenous methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg/day) immediately after spinal cord injury for three days. In the hypothermia-treated group, cold isotonic saline (5°C) was infused via a cannula into the epidural space at a rate of 10 ml/min. The temperature of the tissue was allowed to reach 25ºC, and then isotonic saline solution was given at a rate of 5 ml/min for 3 hours. Saline was given to the injured group following spinal cord injury. After 1 week of experimental injury, mid-thoracic level tissue was removed from the spinal cord for histopathological evaluation and subsequent stereological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The volume of spinal cord segment, not only parenchyma of grey and white matter but also cavity, was estimated by the Cavalieri principle. Significant differences were seen between the injured group and methylprednisolone /hypothermia-treated groups in terms of the total volume cavity of spinal cord segment; cavity volume in the grey matter and cavity volume in the white matter. No significant differences were seen between methylprednisolone and hypothermia-treated groups in terms of the total volume cavity of spinal cord segment; cavity volume in the grey matter and cavity volume in the white matter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggested that both methylprednisolone and hypothermia treatment are neuroprotective in preventing spinal cord tissue from tissue damage after experimental injury.
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bunyami
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.affiliation: Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ersan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Odaci
authors.affiliation: Gaziosmanpasa University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aslan
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksak
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Deniz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Unal
authors.affiliation: Ondokuz Mayis University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: B Zuhal
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Altunkaynak
authors.affiliation: Ataturk University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gundogdu
authors.affiliation: Gazi State Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gokyar
keywords: Cavalieri principle; Experimental spinal cord injury; Hypothermia; Methylprednisolone; Stereology