The comparison of neuroprotective effects of intrathecal dexmedetomidine and metilprednisolone in spinal cord injury

Background: The purpose of this study is the investigation of the effects of intrathecally injected dexmedetomidine and methylprednisolone and their dominancy over one another in rats with generated Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Methods: 40, female, adult Wistar Albino rats weighing 220-260 g were included in the study. The rats were fixed with Intrathecal catheter (IT) and divided into four groups. All subjects were applied T7-10 laminectomy after catheter. Group S (n:10) was injected with IT 10 mu L isotonic saline; Group C (n: 10) with IT 10 mu L isotonic saline after SCI; Group D (n:10) with IT one doze 10 mu L of dexmedetomidine after SCI; Group M (n:10) IT one dose 10 mu L of methylprednisolone. The subjects were sacrificed 72 h after this operation. The damaged area was removed biochemically and histopathologically examined. Results: Antioxidant and inflammatory parameters searched for in all damages tissue were statistically different in all groups from group S. They were different in group M and group D than group C (p < 0.001). After the comparison of group D and group M, PON and IL6 values were higher in group D (p = 0.003, p = 0.035) while the other two biochemical parameters were similar in both groups (Table 1). After histopathologic trials, edemas, bleeding and necrosis were found less in group S while at the most in group C (p < 0.001). In group M and group D, however, they were higher than group S and lower than group C (p < 0.001). After the comparison of group D and group M, while there was no difference in terms of edema necrosis, the amount of bleeding was lower in group D (p < 0.001) (Table 2). Conclusions: It has been discovered that intrathecal use of dexmedetomidine caused neuroprotective effects similar to methylprednisolone. (C) 2013 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.