Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in rapid and significant oxidative stress. This study was aimed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of
Ebselen in comparison with
Methylprednisolone in experimental SCI. Thirty six Wistar albino rats (200-250 g) were divided in to six groups; A (control), B (only
laminectomy), C (
Trauma;
laminectomy + spinal
trauma), D (Placebo group;
laminectomy + spinal
trauma + serum physiologic), E (
Methylprednisolone group;
laminectomy + spinal
trauma +
Methylprednisolone treated), F (
Ebselen group;
laminectomy + spinal
trauma +
Ebselen treated), containing 6 rats each.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) was performed by placement of an
aneurysm clip, extradurally at the level of T11-12. After this application, group A, B and C were not treated with any
drug. Group D received 1 ml serum physiologic. Group E received 30 mg/kg
Methylprednisolone and, Group F received 10 mg/kg
Ebselen intraperitoneally (i.p.). Rats were neurologically examined 24 h after
trauma and spinal cord tissue samples had been harvested for both biochemical and histopathological evaluation. All rats were paraplegic after SCI except the ones in group A and B. Neurological scores were not different in traumatized rats than that of non-traumatized ones. SCI significantly increased spinal cord tissue
malondialdehyde (MDA) and
protein carbonyl (PC) levels and also decreased
superoxide dismutase (SOD),
glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and
catalase (
CAT) enzyme activities compared to control.
Methylprednisolone and
Ebselen treatment decreased tissue MDA and PC levels and prevented inhibition of the
enzymes SOD, GSH-Px and CAT in the tissues. However, the best results were obtained with
Ebselen. In groups C and D, the neurons of the spinal cord tissue became extensively dark and degenerated with picnotic nuclei. The morphology of neurons in groups E and F were very well protected, but not as good as the control group. The number of neurons in the spinal cord tissues of the groups C and D were significantly less than the groups A, B, E and F. We concluded that the use of
Ebselen treatment might have potential benefits in spinal cord tissue damage on clinical grounds.