Therapeutic efficacy of Ac-DMQD-CHO, a caspase 3 inhibitor, for rat spinal cord injury.

Abstract

We investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Ac-DMQD-CHO, a caspase-3 inhibitor, and functional recovery in spinal cord injury in a rat model. Thirty rats were randomized into three groups of 10 each. In groups 2 and 3, spinal cord trauma was produced in the thoracic region. Group 3 rats were treated with Ac-DMQD-CHO. Treatment responses were evaluated based on histopathological and TUNEL staining findings at 24 h and 5 days post-injury. Neurologic performance was assessed during and following treatment. Twenty-four hours after injury, light microscopy examination revealed diffuse hemorrhagic necrosis, edema, vascular thrombi, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration in group 2 and 3 rats, but cavitation and demyelinization were less prominent in group 3. At this time point, treatment of the rats with Ac-DMQD-CHO significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells. Traumatic injury to the spinal cord causes apoptosis and administration of Ac-DMQD-CHO decreases apoptosis and improves functional outcome.

• Authors: Osman Akdemir, Ismail Berksoy, Alper Karaoğlan, Seref Barut, Kaya Bilguvar, Beyazit Cirakoğlu, Elife Sahan, Ahmet Colak
• Journal: Journal of clinical neuroscience : official journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia (J Clin Neurosci) Vol. 15 Issue 6 Pg. 672-8 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 0967-5868 [Print] Scotland
• PMID: 18378144 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Oligopeptides
• acetyl-aspartyl-methionyl-glutaminyl-aspartyl-aldehyde

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Count (methods)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• In Situ Nick-End Labeling (methods)
• Laminectomy (methods)
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Oligopeptides (therapeutic use)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Recovery of Function (drug effects)
• Spinal Cord Injuries (complications, drug therapy, etiology)
• Statistics, Nonparametric
• Time Factors