title: Neuroprotective effect of hydrogen sulfide on acute cauda equina injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as a novel gaseous messenger molecule, plays an important role in signal transduction and biological modulation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study the effect of H2S after compression injury of cauda equina was studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  The setting of this study is the laboratory investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 162 rats were randomly allocated into three groups: sham group, compression group, and H2S group. Cauda equina compression (CEC) injury in rats was induced by implanting silicone gels (10×1×1 mm) into the epidural spaces L5 and L6; laminectomy was performed at the L4 level of the vertebra in the sham-operated group. The experimental group was treated with sodium hydrosulfide intraperitoneally (20 µmol/kg body weight), whereas the compression and sham groups received equal volumes of physiological saline. Levels of malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were determined immediately before CEC surgery, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after CEC surgery. Furthermore, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay were performed 48 h after CEC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hematoxylin and eosin staining showed that myelin sheath and the cauda equina fibers in the compression group were less compact and highly degenerated compared with the sham group, and that H2S treatment could improve the status. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated biotinylated UTP nick-end labeling staining exhibited that decreased number of TUNEL positive cells was found in the H2S group than in the compression group. The level of MDA was increased in the sham and H2S groups compared with the compression group (p<.05, p<.01), whereas the level of GSH was decreased (p<.05, p<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With the above data, we conclude that H2S could reduce the oxidative stress and has neuroprotective effect in acute cauda equina syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Xingzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China. Electronic address: alphaf@163.com.
authors.forename: Zhiyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Yujie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Tong
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 639 Zhizaoju Rd, Shanghai 200011, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002420:Cauda Equina / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism; D064426:Gasotransmitters / Q000494:pharmacology; D005978:Glutathione / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000494:pharmacology; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007796:Laminectomy; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression; D013440:Sulfides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D064426:Gasotransmitters; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013440:Sulfides; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C025451:sodium bisulfide; D005978:Glutathione; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide
keywords: Cauda equina syndrome; Glutathione; Hydrogen sulfide; Malonaldehyde; Neuroprotective effect; Oxidative stress effect