Rescue of rat spinal motoneurons from avulsion-induced cell death by intrathecal administration of IGF-I and Cerebrolysin.

Ventral root avulsion results in the loss of motoneurons in the corresponding spinal cord segment. In the present experiments we have tested effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and Cerebrolysin on survival of avulsed motoneurons after their chronic intrathecal administration in the adult rats. We have found that avulsion of the C5 ventral roots results in significant loss of motoneurons in the same spinal cord segment due mainly to apoptosis. In comparison to the untreated control rats, the amount of motoneuron survival in avulsed ventral horn was significantly higher after 4 weeks intrathecal administration of IGF-I or Cerebrolysin. No significant differences were observed between effects of IGF-I and Cerebrolysin in our experimental model. The results suggest that both IGF-I and Cerebrolysin can reduce avulsion-induced loss of adult rat motoneurons.