Neuroprotective effects of methylprednisolone and hypothermia after experimental spinal cord injury: a histopathological and stereological study.

OBJECTIVE Spinal cord injury is a common trauma among severe accidents in which the spinal cord has been severed; intravenous methylprednisolone and hypothermia are widely used in the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injuries. However, no common consensus has been reached on therapeutic approaches to prevent and reduce disability caused by spinal cord injuries. In this study, the efficacy of methylprednisolone and hypothermia treatments after experimental spinal cord injury made by dynamic weight-drop model in rabbits was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS This experiment consists of three groups: injured, methylprednisolone-treated and hypothermia-treated groups. The methylprednisolone-treated group received intravenous methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg/day) immediately after spinal cord injury for three days. In the hypothermia-treated group, cold isotonic saline (5°C) was infused via a cannula into the epidural space at a rate of 10 ml/min. The temperature of the tissue was allowed to reach 25ºC, and then isotonic saline solution was given at a rate of 5 ml/min for 3 hours. Saline was given to the injured group following spinal cord injury. After 1 week of experimental injury, mid-thoracic level tissue was removed from the spinal cord for histopathological evaluation and subsequent stereological analysis. RESULTS The volume of spinal cord segment, not only parenchyma of grey and white matter but also cavity, was estimated by the Cavalieri principle. Significant differences were seen between the injured group and methylprednisolone /hypothermia-treated groups in terms of the total volume cavity of spinal cord segment; cavity volume in the grey matter and cavity volume in the white matter. No significant differences were seen between methylprednisolone and hypothermia-treated groups in terms of the total volume cavity of spinal cord segment; cavity volume in the grey matter and cavity volume in the white matter. CONCLUSIONS These results suggested that both methylprednisolone and hypothermia treatment are neuroprotective in preventing spinal cord tissue from tissue damage after experimental injury.