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Early changes in cerebrospinal fluid Ca2+ and FFA levels following experimental spinal cord injury
E Fernandez1, R Pallini, A M Bracali
1Institute of Neurosurgery, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Ca2+ and free fatty acids (FFA) levels were determined for 4 h following experimental spinal cord (SC) injury in rabbits. The injury was produced by dropping a 20 g weight from 20 cm on exposed dura mater at the C5-C6 level. Samples of CSF were obtained from the cisterna magna from a second laminectomy at the C1 level. A significant decrease in CSF Ca2+ levels was observed 10 and 30 min post-injury; such levels increased above normal values 180 min post-injury. A significant increase in CSF FFA levels was seen from 10 to 240 min post-injury with a peak at 30 min. The early decrease of CSF Ca2+ levels and the concomitant increase in CSF FFA levels seem to confirm in role of Ca2+ in mediating the lipolytic response of the SC tissue to trauma.