[An experimental study on preventive effect of vitamin E in spinal cord injury]

The effects of vitamin E on compression injury of the spinal cord associated with ischemia were studied in rats. Growing rats were divided into two groups and given diet containing 2 IU/100 g (group C) or 50 IU/100 g (group E) of alpha-tocopherol acetate from 8-10 weeks before experiments. The motor disturbance induced by spinal cord injury was greatly reduced by vitamin E-supplementation. After injury, the value of TBA-reactive substances (TBARS) was immediately increased and the level of alpha-tocopherol was correspondingly decreased in the spinal cord. A higher level of TBARS was observed in the proximal region than in the injured region of the spinal cord. The high level persisted for 24 hrs in group C, but decreased within 1 hr in group E. Pathological examination of the spinal cord revealed less damage, such as bleeding and edema, in group E than in group C.