METHODS: Intrathecal administration of an
AMPA/
kainate antagonist, 6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-(f)-quinoxaline-2, 3-dione (
NBQX), 1 hour before
ischemia reduced locomotor deficit, based on the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scale (0=total
paralysis; 21=normal) (
sham: 21+/-0, n=3; saline: 3.7+/-4.5, n=7;
NBQX: 12. 7+/-7.0, n=7, P<0.05) 6 weeks after
ischemia. Gray matter damage and neuronal loss in the ventral horn were evident after
ischemia, but no difference was noted between the saline and
NBQX groups. The extent of white matter injury was quantitatively assessed, based on axonal counts, and was significantly less in the
NBQX as compared with the saline group in the ventral (
sham: 1063+/-44/200x200 microm, n=3; saline: 556+/-104, n=7;
NBQX: 883+/-103, n=7), ventrolateral (
sham: 1060+/-135, n=3; saline: 411+/-66, n=7;
NBQX: 676+/-122, n=7), and corticospinal tract (
sham: 3391+/-219, n=3; saline: 318+/-23, n=7;
NBQX: 588+/-103, n=7) in the white matter on day 42.
CONCLUSIONS: