Magnesium sulfate treatment decreases caspase-3 activity after experimental spinal cord injury in rats

Apoptosis has increasingly been considered as an important factor in secondary injury after spinal cord injury (SCI). Manifestation of apoptotic cell death process involves activation of the caspase-3 apoptotic cascade. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the effect of magnesium sulfate on caspase-3 activity and to compare its effectiveness with methylprednisolone after acute SCI.

The rats were randomly and blindly allocated into 5 groups of 8 rats each. Spinal cord contusion injury was produced by the weight drop method. The control group consisted of non-injured rats. In the trauma group, no treatment was given, whereas 1 mL saline, 600 mg/kg magnesium sulfate, and 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) were administered in the vehicle and both treatment groups immediately after injury. Twenty-four hours after trauma, spinal cord samples were obtained, and tissue caspase-3 activity levels were examined. A 1-way analysis of variance and the post hoc test were used for statistical analysis.

The results showed that caspase-3 activity increased to statistically significantly higher levels in spinal cord after contusion injury than in the control group. Caspase-3 enzyme activity levels were significantly reduced in animals treated either with magnesium sulfate or MPSS.

We have shown that magnesium sulfate decreases caspase-3 activity in rat spinal cord subjected to contusion injury. Magnesium sulfate may have potential therapeutic benefits by reducing apoptotic tissue damage after SCI.