Effects of Atorvastatin on Experimental Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
Extent of secondary injury is the determinant of tissue destruction and functional worsening after primary spinal cord injury (SCI). Data have accumulated on alleviation of secondary injury in SCI from many studies on the subject. Besides its cholesterol lowering effects, statins are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects which are the main targets of spinal cord research. This study aims to evaluate the effects of atorvastatin on experimental spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.


METHODS
Thirty adult male New Zealand rabbits were allocated into control, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and treatment groups. Treatment group received 5 mg/kg of atorvastatin via lavage for the preceding 14 days. Other groups received placebo during the same time period. After two weeks, animals in the I/R and treatment groups underwent abdominal temporary aorta occlusion for 30 minutes. Neurological condition of the animals was recorded during the 48 hours of observation. Afterwards, animals were sacrificed and levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione and nitric oxide in spinal cord tissue and plasma and the histopathological tissue changes were determined.


RESULTS
Animals in the treatment groups demonstrated significantly better results than the I/R group regarding biochemical markers. Neurological evaluation using the Tarlov scale demonstrated significantly better results at the 48th hour in treatment group. Histopathological results were also better in the treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study demonstrate the neuroprotective effects of atorvastatin. Atorvastatin has favorable effects on biochemical markers of oxidative stress in SCI. Further studies with larger cohorts and different time periods are also needed.
Baskent University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Adana, Turkey.
Ozgur
O
Kardes
Soner
S
Civi
Kadir
K
Tufan
Eser Oz
EO
Oyar
Suna
S
Omeroglu
Sukru
S
Aykol
D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D005978:Glutathione