title: Neuroprotective effects of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides against traumatic spinal cord injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is a mushroom belonging to the polyporaceae family of Basidiomycota and has widely been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years. G. lucidum has never been studied in traumatic spinal cord injury. The aim of this study is to investigate whether G. lucidum polysaccharides (GLPS) can protect the spinal cord after experimental spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomized into five groups of eight animals each: control, sham, trauma, GLPS, and methylprednisolone. In the control group, no surgical intervention was performed. In the sham group, only a laminectomy was performed. In all the other groups, the spinal cord trauma model was created by the occlusion of the spinal cord with an aneurysm clip. In the spinal cord tissue, caspase-3 activity, tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels, myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels, nitric oxide levels, and superoxide dismutase levels were analysed. Histopathological and ultrastructural evaluations were also performed. Neurological evaluation was performed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotor scale and the inclined-plane test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After traumatic spinal cord injury, increases in caspase-3 activity, tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels, myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels, and nitric oxide levels were detected. After the administration of GLPS, decreases were observed in tissue caspase-3 activity, tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels, myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels, and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, GLPS treatment showed improved results in histopathological scores, ultrastructural scores, and functional tests.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biochemical, histopathological, and ultrastructural analyses and functional tests reveal that GLPS exhibits meaningful neuroprotective effects against spinal cord injury.
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Turgut Ozal University, Emek, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Emre Cemal
authors: EC
authors: Gokce
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health, Kirikkale Yuksek Ihtisas State Hospital, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors: Ramazan
authors: R
authors: Kahveci
authors: International Centre for Hydrogen Energy Technologies (UNIDO-ICHET), Cevizlibag, Zeytinburnu 34015, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors: Osman Malik
authors: OM
authors: Atanur
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Ministry of Health, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: boragurer@gmail.com.
authors: Bora
authors: B
authors: Gürer
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors: Nurkan
authors: N
authors: Aksoy
authors: Department of Pathology, Ministry of Health, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Aysun
authors: A
authors: Gokce
authors: Department of Anatomy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa Fevzi
authors: MF
authors: Sargon
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Turgut Ozal University, Emek, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Berker
authors: B
authors: Cemil
authors: Department of Neurosurgery, Turgut Ozal University, Emek, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Erdogan
authors: Department of Emergency Medicine, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors: Ozan
authors: O
authors: Kahveci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D011134:Polysaccharides
keywords: Ganoderma lucidum; Methylprednisolone; Neuroprotection; Polysaccharides; Spinal cord injury; Trauma