2Fatih Sultan Mehmet Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
3Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Beyin ve Sinir Cerrahisi Anabilim Dalı, Sivas, Türkiye
4Refik Saydam Halk Sağlığı Kurumu, Ankara, Türkiye
5Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Patoloji Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
6Ankara Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Biyokimya Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye
7Hacettepe Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Anatomi Anabilim Dalı, Ankara, Türkiye AIM: Previous studies demonstrated the neuroprotective effects of progesterone, but no previous study has examined the neuroprotective effects of progesterone on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether progesterone could protect the spinal cord from ischemia/reperfusion injury.
MATERIAL and METHODS: Rabbits were randomized into four groups of eight animals as follows: group 1 (control), group 2 (ischemia), group 3 (methylprednisolone) and group 4 (progesterone). In the control group only a laparotomy was performed. In all other groups, the spinal cord ischemia model was created by the occlusion of the aorta just caudal to the renal artery. Levels of malondialdehyde and catalase were analyzed, as were the activities of caspase-3, myeloperoxidase, and xanthine oxidase. Histopathological, ultrastructural and neurological evaluations were performed.
RESULTS: After ischemia-reperfusion injury, increases were found in caspase-3 activity, myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels, and xanthine oxidase activity. In contrast, decreases in catalase levels were observed. After the administration of progesterone, decreases were observed in caspase-3 activity, myeloperoxidase activity, malondialdehyde levels, and xanthine oxidase activity, whereas catalase levels increased. Furthermore, progesterone treatment showed improved results concerning histopathological scores, ultrastructural score and Tarlov scores.
CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that progesterone exhibits meaningful neuroprotective activity following ischemia-reperfusion injury of the spinal cord.
Anahtar Kelimeler : Ischemia/reperfusion, Methylprednisolone, Neuroprotection, Progesterone, Spinal cord