Turkish Neurosurgery 2017 , Vol 27 , Num 6
Neuroprotective Effects of Pregabalin Against Spinal Cord Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats
Burak KAZANCI1,Selcuk OZDOGAN2,Ramazan KAHVECI3,Emre Cemal GOKCE4, Kazim YIGITKANLI5,Aysun GOKCE6,Bulent ERDOGAN4
1Ufuk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
2Dr. Lutfi Kırdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Istanbul, Turkey
3Canakkale State Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Canakkale, Turkey
4Turgut Ozal University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Ankara, Turkey
5Polatli State Hospital, Neurosurgery Clinic, Ankara, Turkey
6Diskapi Yıldırım Beyazıt Training and Research Hospital, Pathology Clinic, Ankara, Turkey
DOI : 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.17959-16.1 AIM: To evaluate the effect of pregabalin pre-treatment on spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury and compare with methylprednisolone (MP).

MATERIAL and METHODS: Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups as follow: Group 1 (sham)(n=8), group 2 (ischemia only)(n=8), group 3 (30 mg/kg pregabalin)(n=8), and group 4 (30 mg/kg methylprednisolone)(n=8). Laparotomy was performed without aortic clamp in the sham group. All animals were sacrificed 24 hours after surgery. The spinal cord tissue samples were harvested and caspase-3 activity, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?) and Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1?) levels, catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and nitric oxide (NO) levels were analyzed to investigate the effects of different excitatory and inflammatory pathways in mechanism of I/R injury. Ultrastructural and histopathological examinations were carried out. Neurological recovery was measured by Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) test and Inclined Plane Test.

RESULTS: Decresead caspase-3 activity and decreased inflammatory markers like TNF-?, IL-1?, and decresaed excitotatory pathways like CAT, GPx, MDA, NO and SOD were observed in both pregabalin pre-treatment and MP treatment groups. Pregabalin pre-treatment produced better ultrastructural results compared to MP treatment, as with histopathological examination. Pregabalin group showed better recovery compared to MP treament group according to BBB scoring system.

CONCLUSION: Pregabalin pre-treatmet and MP treatment both has neuroprotective effect on I/R injury by decreasing caspase dependant apoptosis, and inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. In addition, pregabalin pre-treatment had better clinical effects compared to MP treatment. Keywords : Pregabalin, Methylprednisolone, Spinal cord injury, Neuroprotection

Corresponding author : Selcuk OZDOGAN, drselcukozdogan@hotmail.com