Abstract
Introduction: Recent studies have demonstrated that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has a strong antioxidant property and it exerts neurotrophic effects on the peripheral nerves. In this study, we investigated potential effects of ALA on secondary injury mechanisms as well as on apoptosis.Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into 5 groups, as follows: laminectomy (control), laminectomy + trauma (Trauma), laminectomy + posttraumatic methylprednisolone [MP] (Trauma + MP), laminectomy + posttraumatic ALA (Trauma + ALA), laminectomy + posttraumatic MP and ALA (Trauma + MP + ALA). Yasargil aneurysm clip method was used to induce the spinal cord injury. Twenty-four hours after the procedure the rats were sacrificed. Spinal cord samples were harvested to analyze malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels, as well as histopathological characteristics.Results: The Kruskal-Wallis test (95% confidence level, p < 0.05) showed a statistically significant difference between the groups in MDA (p = 0.006), CAT (p = 0.000), and SOD (p = 0.001) levels. Pairwise comparisons, with Bonferroni correction, of control and Trauma group with the other groups, revealed a significant difference in CAT and SOD levels. Overall, our results showed that ALA administration significantly decreased MDA levels in Trauma + ALA compared to the same effect of MP in Trauma + MP group. Furthermore, ALA administration increased SOD and CAT levels in Trauma + ALA group. The combined use of ALA and MP demonstrated synergistic effects and yielded even more significant results.Conclusions: A combined use of ALA and MP might provide a benefit in patients exposed to spinal cord injury. However, at present, further studies are required to confirm these results.
Highlights
Recent studies have demonstrated that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has a strong antioxidant property and it exerts neurotrophic effects on the peripheral nerves
A combined use of ALA and MP might provide a benefit in patients exposed to spinal cord injury
We investigated the effects of ALA on the mechanisms of secondary injury and apoptosis pathways, as well as compared the anti-inflammatory and biochemical properties of ALA and ALA-MP in treating spinal cord injury (SCI)
Summary
Recent studies have demonstrated that alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has a strong antioxidant property and it exerts neurotrophic effects on the peripheral nerves. We investigated potential effects of ALA on secondary injury mechanisms as well as on apoptosis. In SCI, the first trauma occurrs as a result of mechanical stroke and is known as a primary injury. Extension, dislocation, and penetrating injuries cause strain and rupture of neural elements or spinal cord vessels, which is in direct proportion to the severity of stroke. A pharmacological treatment that could prevent primary SCI is not developed yet. Secondary cellular damage triggered by mechanical injury develops within hours after the primary injury, and is caused by metabolic and biochemical agents. A number of chemical agents have been used to prevent existing neural tissue damage, including GM1 ganglioside, naloxone, thyrotropin-releasing hormon (TRH), nimodipine and tirilazad mesylate [5]. With regard to new neuroprotective agents, experimental studies on minocycline and erythropoietin have yielded promising results [5]
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