EGb761 improves histological and functional recovery in rats with acute spinal cord contusion injury.
METHODS
This is an experimental study.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract 761 (EGb761) on histological features of injured sites and on functional performance of rats subjected to standardized spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
This study was conducted in Xian, Shaanxi, China.


METHODS
Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operated, saline-treated control and EGb761-treated. The Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Score (BBB score) was calculated and footprint analysis was performed to evaluate the functional performance of the rats in each group. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and caspase-3 staining were performed to evaluate the necrosis area and apoptotic cells at the injured site in each group.


RESULTS
At 14, but not 1, 3 and 7, days post injury (DPI), rats in the EGb761-treated group exhibited significantly better BBB scores compared with the saline-treated control group (P<0.05). The EGb761-treated group also showed increased stride length, decreased stride width and reduced toe dragging at 14 DPI (P<0.05). Analysis of HE staining revealed that the EGb761-treated group had reduced necrosis at the injury site compared with the saline-treated control group (P<0.05). Analysis of TUNEL and caspase-3 staining demonstrated that cell apoptosis was increased at 1-14 DPI, peaking at 24-h post injury in the gray matter, and 7 DPI in the white matter. At 7 DPI, the quantity of apoptotic cells was significantly decreased in the EGb761-treated group.


CONCLUSIONS
EGb761 administration during the acute phase after SCI significantly reduced secondary injury-induced tissue necrosis and cell apoptosis and improved functional performance in rats.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
M
M
Yan
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Y-w
YW
Liu
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The 359 Hospital of Chinese PLA, Zhenjiang, China.
W
W
Shao
Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
X-g
XG
Mao
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
M
M
Yang
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Z-x
ZX
Ye
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
W
W
Liang
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Z-j
ZJ
Luo
D000818:Animals; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013131:Spine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract
D053148:Caspase 3; D010936:Plant Extracts; C063170:Ginkgo biloba extract; D000096983:Ginkgo Extract