E-ISSN: 1019-5157
ISSN: 2651-5024
Research
Effects of Felbamate on Tissue Caspase-3 Levels, Histopathology, and Neurological Function in Rats with Early Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Muhammed Erkan Emrahoğlu✉ ,
Erdal Reşit Yılmaz ,
ASKIN ESEN HASTURK ,
Ekrem YALÇIN ,
Muhammed Yusuf Hamurcu ,
Jafar Nouri Nojadeh ,
Emine Arık ,
Aslı Ayaz ,
engin kayıkçı
School of Medicine, Ankara University; Neurosurgery, sağlık bilimleri üniversitesi dışkapı education and reseache hospıtal; Neurosurgery, DR. A.Y. ANKARA ONCOLOGY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH HOSPITAL; Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara Medipol Üniversitesi; Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara Etlik City Hospital; Medical Biochemistry, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine; Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Etlik City Hospital; Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Ankara Etlik City Hospital; Department of Neurosurgery, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University
Accepted: 15/08/2026
Article in Press
Corresponding Author:
Muhammed Erkan Emrahoğlu (erkanemrahoglu@gmail.com)
Abstract
Aim
To evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of felbamate in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Material and Methods
Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 7 each): control, ischemia, and felbamate. Transient spinal cord ischemia was induced by abdominal aortic occlusion for 20 minutes, followed by reperfusion. Felbamate was administered via a nasogastric tube immediately after reperfusion at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Twenty-four hours after surgery, tissue caspase-3 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, spinal cord sections were evaluated histopathologically using a semiquantitative composite injury score, and neurological function was assessed using the Modified Tarlov Scoring System.
Results
Tissue caspase-3 levels differed significantly among groups (ANOVA, F = 205.19, p < 0.001). Compared with the ischemia group, felbamate treatment was associated with lower caspase-3 levels and reduced histopathological injury. Overall histopathological injury scores also differed significantly among the groups (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.001). Scores were higher in the ischemia group than in the control group and lower in the felbamate group than in the ischemia group, although they remained higher than those in the control group. Neurological outcomes followed the same pattern. Mean Modified Tarlov scores were 5.00 in the control group, 0.86 in the ischemia group, and 2.14 in the felbamate group, with all pairwise comparisons reaching statistical significance (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Felbamate was associated with reduced apoptosis-related signaling, less severe histopathological damage, and improved early neurological function after experimental spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.
To evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of felbamate in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Material and Methods
Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n = 7 each): control, ischemia, and felbamate. Transient spinal cord ischemia was induced by abdominal aortic occlusion for 20 minutes, followed by reperfusion. Felbamate was administered via a nasogastric tube immediately after reperfusion at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Twenty-four hours after surgery, tissue caspase-3 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, spinal cord sections were evaluated histopathologically using a semiquantitative composite injury score, and neurological function was assessed using the Modified Tarlov Scoring System.
Results
Tissue caspase-3 levels differed significantly among groups (ANOVA, F = 205.19, p < 0.001). Compared with the ischemia group, felbamate treatment was associated with lower caspase-3 levels and reduced histopathological injury. Overall histopathological injury scores also differed significantly among the groups (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.001). Scores were higher in the ischemia group than in the control group and lower in the felbamate group than in the ischemia group, although they remained higher than those in the control group. Neurological outcomes followed the same pattern. Mean Modified Tarlov scores were 5.00 in the control group, 0.86 in the ischemia group, and 2.14 in the felbamate group, with all pairwise comparisons reaching statistical significance (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Felbamate was associated with reduced apoptosis-related signaling, less severe histopathological damage, and improved early neurological function after experimental spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury.
Keywords
Felbamate
spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury
caspase-3
histopathology
neuroprotection
rat model