Study of the Effects of Horsetail Stem Extract Administration on the Numerical Density of Alpha Motoneurons in the Ventral Horn of Lumbar Spinal Cord of Compressed Sciatic Nerve of Rat

Purpose: The goal of this research was to study of the protective effects horse tail (HT) plant extract on the central degeneration of alpha motoneurons (AM) of spinal cord.Materials and Methods: The lesioned sciatic rats were divided into sham, control and 3 experimental groups and treated by 15 mg/kg, ip HT extract. The animals were care for one month and then were sacrificed and perfused cardially by 10% formaldehyde and the lumbar segments of their spinal cord dissected and sampled. After histological processing, by using a stereological technique (dissector), the numerical density (Nv) of AM in the ventral horn of lumbar spinal cord were estimated in all groups. Results: The results are showing that although the Nv of AM of shams is significantly lower than the control (p<0.001), but the Nv of AM of almost of all experimental groups is higher than of sham group (p<0.05). More over there is no significant difference between experimental and control groups.Conclusion: These findings indicate that administration of HT extract has a beneficial effect on the survival of AM and may prevent or delay the central degeneration.