N-acetylcysteine treatment following spinal cord trauma reduces neural tissue damage and improves locomotor function in mice.
Following spinal cord trauma, mitochondrial dysfunction associated with increased oxidative stress is a critical event leading to leukocyte inflammatory responses, neuronal cell death and demyelination, contributing to permanent locomotor and neurological disability. The present study demonstrated that the mitochondrial enhancer N-acetylcysteine (NAC) may restore redox balance via enhancement of mitochondrial respiratory activity following traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). In addition, NAC ameliorates oxidative stress-induced neuronal loss, demyelination, leukocyte infiltration and inflammatory mediator expression and improves long-term locomotor function. Furthermore, neuronal survival and neurological recovery are significantly correlated with increased mitochondrial bioenergetics in SCI following treatment with NAC. Therefore, NAC may represent a potential therapeutic agent for preserving mitochondrial dynamics and integrity following traumatic SCI.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Jian
J
Guo
Central Laboratory, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Yiqiao
Y
Li
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Zhong
Z
Chen
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Zhennian
Z
He
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Bin
B
Zhang
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Yonghuan
Y
Li
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Jianghua
J
Hu
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Mingyuan
M
Han
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Yuanlin
Y
Xu
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Ningbo Beilun People Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315800, P.R. China.
Yongfu
Y
Li
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D000111:Acetylcysteine