Turkish Neurosurgery 2014 , Vol 24 , Num 3
Systemic Administration of Atorvastatin Improves Locomotor Functions and Hyperacute-Acute Response After Experimental Spinal Cord Injury: An Ultrastructural and Biochemical Analysis
Osman Arikan NACAR1, Hakan EROGLU2, Nuri Eralp CETINALP1, Guner MENEKSE3, Ali Erdem YILDIRIM1, Ozhan Merzuk UCKUN4, Ergun DAGLIOGLU1, Omer Faruk TURKOGLU5, Ahmet Deniz BELEN1
1Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Hacettepe University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Ankara, Turkey
3Adana Numune Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Adana, Turkey
4Gaziantep Dr. Ersin Arslan Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Gaziantep, Turkey
5Atatürk Education and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.8131-13.1 AIM: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is characterized by posttraumatic inflammatory cascades including excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Agents against neuroinflammation are the current scope of studies on experimental SCI with promising results.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-320 gram were used. They were randomized and divided into four groups with eight animals in each as sham, control, SCI+PEG (polyethylene glycol) and SCI+atorvastatin group. Rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal ketamine (80 mg/kg) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) and SCI was induced by the weight-drop model. A single level laminectomy was performed at T10 and the spinal column was immobilized with a stereotactic device. Rats in the treatment group received ip atorvastatin at 0.2 mg/kg. Neurological impairments were examined through Modified Tarlov’s and inclined angle scores. The SCI section was resected for electron-microscopic analysis, IL-1β and IL-6 level. All data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Dunnet T3 test.

RESULTS: Atorvastatin improved locomotor recovery after rat SCI. The results were further confirmed with a statistically significant decrease of IL-1β, IL-6 and lipid peroxide levels. This finding revealed the anti-inflammatory and beneficial effect of atorvastatin on rat SCI.

CONCLUSION: The present study focused on both B and T cell mediated immunity and confirmed the beneficial effect of atorvastatin with decreased expressions of IL-1β and IL-6. Keywords : Atorvastatin, Spinal cord injury, Inflammation, Rat, IL-1β, IL-6, Lipid peroxidation

Corresponding author : Osman Arikan Nacar, nacar.osman@gmail.com