Neuroprotective Effects of Dexpanthenol on Rabbit Spinal Cord Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Model

-OBJECTIVE: Dexpanthenol (DXP) reportedly protects tis-sues against oxidative damage in various inflammation models. This study aimed to evaluate its effects on oxida-tive stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and neurological re-covery in an experimental rabbit spinal cord ischemia/ reperfusion injury (SCIRI) model. -METHODS: Rabbits were randomized into 5 groups of 8 animals each: group 1 (control), group 2 (ischemia), group 3 (vehicle), group 4 (methylprednisolone, 30 mg/kg), and group 5 (DXP, 500 mg/kg). The control group underwent laparotomy only, whereas other groups were subjected to spinal cord ischemia by aortic occlusion (just caudal to the 2 renal arteries) for 20 min. After 24 h, a modified Tarlov scale was employed to record neurological examination results. Malondialdehyde and caspase-3 levels and cata-lase and myeloperoxidase activities were analyzed in tis-sue and serum samples. Xanthine oxidase activity was measured in the serum. Histopathological and ultrastruc-tural evaluations were also performed in the spinal cord. -RESULTS: After SCIRI, serum and tissue malondialde-hyde and caspase-3 levels and myeloperoxidase and serum xanthine oxidase activities were increased (P < 0.05-0.001). However, serum and tissue catalase activity decreased significantly (P < 0.001). DXP treatment was associated with lower malondialdehyde and caspase-3 levels and reduced myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxi-dase activities but increased catalase activity (P < 0.05-0.001). Furthermore, DXP was associated with better his-topathological, ultrastructural, and neurological outcome scores. -CONCLUSIONS: This study was the first to evaluate antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and neuro-protective effects of DXP on SCIRI. Further experimental and clinical investigations are warranted to confirm that DXP can be administered to treat SCIRI.