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Published on: March 23, 2022
Neuroprotective Effects of Milrinone on Experimental Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Rat Model
Densel Arac1, Mehmet Fatih Erdi1, Fatih Keskin1
1Department of Neurosurgery, Necmettin Erbakan University Meram School of Medicine, Konya, Turkey.
Objective:
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts nerve axons with devastating neurological consequences, but there is no effective clinical treatment. The secondary damage mechanism is a mainstay process, and it starts within a few minutes after trauma. We aim to investigate the neuroprotective effects of milrinone on the SCI model.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 36 Wistar albino rats, each weighing 300-400 g, were randomly split into 4 groups that received different treatments: in group 1 (sham) (n = 9) control, only a laminectomy was performed; in group 2 (SCI) (n = 9), SCI was imitated after laminectomy; in group 3 (SCI + saline) (n = 9), physiological saline solution was injected intraperitoneally immediately after the SCI; and in group 4 (SCI + milrinone), milrinone was administered intraperitoneally on lateral decubitus position immediately after the SCI. Spinal cord contusion was established by the weight-drop technique after laminectomy. Neurological examination scores were recorded, and rats were killed 72 hours later. Serum and spinal cord tissue glutathione peroxidase, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, 8-hydroxiguanosine, interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 levels, histopathological spinal cord damage score, and apoptotic index were examined and compared between groups.
Results:
Neurological examination scores were significantly better in the milrinone-treated group compared with groups 2 and 3. SCI significantly increased serum and spinal cord tissue glutathione peroxidase, total oxidant status, 8-hydroxiguanosine, and interleukin-6 levels that were successfully reduced with milrinone treatment. Interleukin-10 and total antioxidant status levels decreased as a result of SCI increased with milrinone treatment. Increased histopathological spinal cord damage score and apoptotic index in groups 2 and 3 significantly decreased in group 4.
Conclusions:
Milrinone could reduce apoptosis and increase anti-inflammatory and antioxidative mediators, thus playing a protective role in secondary nerve injury after SCI in rats.
