The effects of barnidipine on an experimental ischemia reperfusion model of spinal cord injury and comparison with methyl prednisolone

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Increased intracellular calcium concentration plays an important role in the secondary mechanism of spinalcord injury. In the presenting experimental study, we aimed to evaluate the healing effect of barnidipine, which has a highaffinity for L-type calcium channels, on acute spinal cord injury and to compare its effects with those of methylprednisolone.METHODS: A total of 32 Spraque Dawley albino adult female rats were divided into 4 groups; group 1: sham-operated(n=8), group 2: only ischemia (n=6), group 3: barnidipine-treated (n=8), and group 4: methylprednisolone-treated (n=6). Anischemia-reperfusion model was created by clipping the abdominal aorta in the rats. Motor examination was performed 1 hourafter the surgical procedure and before sacrification. Immediately following the second motor examination, rats were sacrificed and tissue samples were taken for histopathological examination and for testing of tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.RESULTS: A significant correlation of motor examination was found between the sham-operated and barnidipine-treatedgroups and the sham-operated and only ischemia groups at the 1st and 24th hour (p0.008). Light microscopic examination of the sham-operated group revealed findings consistent with normal spinal cordstructure. In group 2, 3, and 4, light microscopic examination revealed polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration and a smallamount of axonal swelling. There was no significant correlation between the ischemia and barnidipine-treated groups and thebarnidipine and methylprednisolone groups in terms of MDA levels (p>0.008).CONCLUSION: A single dose of barnidipine (10 mg/kg) and methylprednisolone are not effective and not sufficient to prevent spinal ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.