Turkish Neurosurgery 2010 , Vol 20 , Num 2
Ultrastructural Changes in the Liver after Experimental Spinal Cord Injury in Rats: Effects of Methylprednisolone, Immunoglobulin G and Albumin
Serap EREL1, Beril GOK2, Kemal KISMET3, Husamettin ERDAMAR4, Mustafa SARGON5, Mehmet Ali AKKUS6
1,3,6Ankara Training and Research Hospital, General Surgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Ankara Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery Ankara, Turkey
4Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Ankara, Turkey
5Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.2462-09.1 AIM: Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is routinely treated with standardized methyl prednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) dose, so it is reassuring to find its effects on liver. We also evaluated the effects of albumin and immunoglobulin G (Ig G) therapies on liver if they are used in case of experimental SCI.

MATERIAL and METHODS: The rats were allocated into six groups as control, trauma, vehicle, MPSS, Ig G and albumin consisting 8 rats for each. The rats with SCI were assigned to 30mg/kg MPSS, 5 mg/kg albumin and 400 mg/kg Ig G treatments. Tissue samples from liver were obtained for light and electron microscopy examinations and determination of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity.

RESULTS: Trauma increased MPO activity and caused cellular changes of liver tissue. Both albumin and Ig G treatments decreased MPO activity significantly. The light and electron microscopic evaluations showed remarkable preservation of liver ultra-structure with all treatments including MPSS.

CONCLUSIONS: SCI resulted in neutrophil infiltration and changes in ultrastructure of liver. It was revealed that MPSS has no detrimental effects on liver. Although all treatments preserved liver tissue structure, Although all treatments preserved liver tissue structure, Ig G and albumin treatments also prevented neutrophil infiltration. To provide protection from secondary liver injury after SCI, use of albumin and Ig G treatments may be beneficial. Keywords : Liver, Spinal cord injury, Methyl prednisolone sodium succinate, Myeloperoxidase, Albumin, Immunoglobulin G, Rats

Corresponding author : Serap Erel, erelserap@yahoo.com