title: Neuroprotective effect of atorvastatin in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prevention of the development of paraplegia during the repair of the damage caused by descending thoracic and thoracoabdominal aneurysms remains an important issue. Therefore, we investigated the protective effect of atorvastatin on ischemia-induced spinal cord injury in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two rabbits were divided into the following four equally sized groups: group I (control), group II (ischemia-reperfusion), group III (atorvastatin treatment) and group IV (atorvastatin withdrawal). Spinal cord ischemia was induced by clamping the aorta both below the left renal artery and above the iliac bifurcation. Seventy-two hours postoperatively, the motor function of the lower limbs of each animal was evaluated according to the Tarlov score. Spinal cord and blood samples were obtained for histopathological and biochemical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the rabbits in group II exhibited severe neurological deficits. Atorvastatin treatment (groups III and IV) significantly reduced the level of motor dysfunction. No significant differences were observed between the motor function scores of groups III and IV at the evaluated time points. Light microscopic examination of spinal cord tissue samples obtained at the 72nd hour of reperfusion indicated greater tissue preservation in groups III and IV than in group II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the considerable neuroprotective effect of atorvastatin on the neurological, biochemical and histopathological status of rabbits with ischemia-induced spinal cord injury. Moreover, the acute withdrawal of atorvastatin therapy following the induction of spinal cord ischemia did not increase the neuronal damage in this rabbit model.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Yunus
authors: Y
authors: Nazli
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Necmettin
authors: N
authors: Colak
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet Fatih
authors: MF
authors: Alpay
authors: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Fatih, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Sema
authors: S
authors: Uysal
authors: Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Duzce, Duzce, Turkey.
authors: Ali Kemal
authors: AK
authors: Uzunlar
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Turgut Ozal, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Omer
authors: O
authors: Cakir
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001706:Biopsy; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase