Bora Gürer1, Abdullah Karakoç1, Pınar Kuru Bektaşoğlu2, Hayri Kertmen3, Mehmet Ali Kanat4, Ata Türker Arıkök3, Berrin İmge Ergüder4, Mustafa Fevzi Sargon5, Özden Çağlar Öztürk6, Erhan Çelikoğlu1. 1. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Health Sciences, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. 2. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Health Sciences, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Physiology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: pnr.kuru@gmail.com. 3. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Health Sciences, Dışkapı Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of Biochemistry, Turkish Ministry of Health, Refik Saydam Hıfzısıhha Institute, Experimental Research and Application Center, Ankara, Turkey. 5. Department of Anatomy, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. 6. Department of Neurosurgery, Tarsus Medical Park, Mersin, Turkey.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), but no previous study has examined these effects on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate whether calcitriol protects the spinal cord from I/R injury. METHODS: Rabbits were randomized into four groups of eight animals: group 1 (laparotomy control), group 2 (ischemia control), group 3 (30mg/kg intraperitoneal methylprednisolone at surgery), and group 4 (0.5μg/kg, intraperitoneal calcitriol for 7 days before I/R injury). The rabbits in the laparotomy control group underwent laparotomy only, whereas all rabbits in the other groups were subject to spinal cord ischemia by aortic occlusion for 20min, just caudal to the renal artery. Malondialdehyde and catalase levels, myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase activities, and caspase-3 concentrations were analyzed. Finally, histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological evaluations were performed. RESULTS: After I/R injury, increases in malondialdehyde levels, myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase activities, and caspase-3 concentrations were found (p<0.001 for all); by contrast, catalase levels decreased (p<0.001). Calcitriol pretreatment was associated with lower malondialdehyde levels (p<0.001), reduced myeloperoxidase (serum, p=0.018; tissue, p<0.001) and xanthine oxidase (p<0.001) activities, and caspase-3 concentrations (p<0.001), but increased catalase levels (p<0.001). Furthermore, calcitriol pretreatment was associated with better histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological scores. CONCLUSION: Calcitriol pretreatment provided significant neuroprotective benefits following spinal cord I/R injury.
INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), but no previous study has examined these effects on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate whether calcitriol protects the spinal cord from I/R injury. METHODS:Rabbits were randomized into four groups of eight animals: group 1 (laparotomy control), group 2 (ischemia control), group 3 (30mg/kg intraperitoneal methylprednisolone at surgery), and group 4 (0.5μg/kg, intraperitoneal calcitriol for 7 days before I/R injury). The rabbits in the laparotomy control group underwent laparotomy only, whereas all rabbits in the other groups were subject to spinal cord ischemia by aortic occlusion for 20min, just caudal to the renal artery. Malondialdehyde and catalase levels, myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase activities, and caspase-3 concentrations were analyzed. Finally, histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological evaluations were performed. RESULTS: After I/R injury, increases in malondialdehyde levels, myeloperoxidase and xanthine oxidase activities, and caspase-3 concentrations were found (p<0.001 for all); by contrast, catalase levels decreased (p<0.001). Calcitriol pretreatment was associated with lower malondialdehyde levels (p<0.001), reduced myeloperoxidase (serum, p=0.018; tissue, p<0.001) and xanthine oxidase (p<0.001) activities, and caspase-3 concentrations (p<0.001), but increased catalase levels (p<0.001). Furthermore, calcitriol pretreatment was associated with better histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological scores. CONCLUSION:Calcitriol pretreatment provided significant neuroprotective benefits following spinal cord I/R injury.