Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effectiveness of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) in the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.
 Methods: Adult Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups: normal control group, SCI group, and SCI group treated with THP (100 mg kg-1). The effect of THP on spinal cord water content, levels of inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress and apoptosis were determined. Locomotor activity in rats was measured using Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) scores. Various oxidative stress markers as well as cytokine levels (NF-ĸB, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α were determined. Apoptotic index was measured using TUNEL assay.
 Results: After 72 h of treatment with THP, BBB scores in SCI group of rats significantly increased from 4.19 ± 0.41 to 8.89 ± 0.47 (p < 0.05). Tunel assay revealed a higher apoptotic index (42.50 ± 3.19) in the tissues of SCI rats than in SCI rats treated with THP (31.48 ± 1.19, p < 0.01). Expressions of inflammatory cytokines were significantly upregulated in SCI rats. However, THP administration resulted in significant downregulation of the expressions (p < 0.01).
 Conclusion: These results indicate that THP attenuates traumatic SCI in rats via modulation of the levels of anti-inflammatory mediators. Thus, THP has a promising potential for the management of SCI.
Highlights
One of the most devastating forms of injury which causes psychological and physical impact on an individual is spinal cord injury (SCI)
Traumatic spinal damage triggers on a cascade of immune responses which lead to death of oligodendrocytes and neurons and scar the anti-inflammatory signal pathway, recovery of locomotor activity, reduction in spinal oedema and induction of apoptosis
The animal model used was Sprague Dawley rat induced with SCI
Summary
One of the most devastating forms of injury which causes psychological and physical impact on an individual is spinal cord injury (SCI). Spinal tissues collected from individual study groups were subjected to homogenization (100 g/L) in physiological buffer saline, and cryocentrifuged at -10oC for 15 min at 4000 rpm followed by preservation at -15 oC. ELISA kits were procured from commercial suppliers and were used for the detection of spinal cord levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, following the procedure indicated in the instruction manual provided with the kit (Diaclone Research, France and Biosource, Belgium). The levels of these inflammatory mediators was indicated as pg/mg protein.
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