Dantrolene can reduce secondary damage after spinal cord injury

Abstract

The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the possible protective effects of dantrolene on traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Twenty-four New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: Sham (no drug or operation, n = 8), Control (SCI + 1 mL saline intraperitoneally (i.p.), n = 8), and DNT (SCI + 10 mg/kg dantrolene in 1 mL, i.p., n = 8). Laminectomy was performed at T10 and balloon catheter was applied extradurally. Four and 24 h after surgery, rabbits were evaluated according to the Tarlov scoring system. Blood, cerebrospinal fluid and tissue sample from spinal cord were taken for measurements of antioxidant status or detection of apoptosis. After 4 h SCI, all animals in control or DNT-treated groups became paraparesic. Significant improvement was observed in DNT-treated group, 24 h after SCI, with respect to control. Traumatic SCI led to an increase in the lipid peroxidation and a decrease in enzymic or non-enzymic endogenous antioxidative defense systems, and increase in apoptotic cell numbers. DNT treatment prevented lipid peroxidation and augmented endogenous enzymic or non-enzymic antioxidative defense systems. Again, DNT treatment significantly decreased the apoptotic cell number induced by SCI. In conclusion, experimental results observed in this study suggest that treatment with dantrolene possess potential benefits for traumatic SCI.

Fig. 1

The result of Tarlov scoring in the experimental groups (n = 8, mean ± SD, DNT 10 mg/kg dantrolene). *P < 0.01 versus control

Fig. 2

Quantitative analysis of immunohistochemical staining (TUNEL) in spinal cords of the experimental groups (n = 8, mean ± SD, DNT 10 mg/kg dantrolene). *P < 0.05 versus control

Fig. 3

Apoptosis in spinal cord. DNT (SCI + dantrolene), S Sham (no drug or operation), C control (SCI + saline), C+ positive control. Arrow TUNEL (+) reaction in cell. TUNEL staining bar 100 μm