Motor Recovery Effect of Minocycline in Spinal Cord Injured Rats

Objective: To observe motor recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) by time and impact strength in minocycline administration rat. Method: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided int groups according to minocycline administration and damage heights. Rats in first group were damaged in 2.5 cm heights, and injected with minocycline. In second group, minocycline was not injected. Rats in third group were damaged in 5 cm heights, and injected with minocycline. In fourth gron up rats were damaged in 5 cm and minocycline was not injected. Rats received injury by the force-calibrated weight drop device and first and third groups injected minocycline 90 mg/kg immediately after injury and injected 45 mg/kg every 12 hours. Motor recoverywas determined by the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale at 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th day after injury. Results: The BBB scores were; significantly higher in first and third groups as compared to second and fourth groups after injury. There was significant change of BBB scores in first group as compared to third. Conclusion: After injury, BBB scores were significantly higher in minocycline treated rats as compared to the contol. Minocycline might have beneficial effects on the recovery cascade after SCI.