Neuroprotective effects of mexiletine on motor evoked potentials in demyelinated rat spinal cords

This study was conducted to whether the administration of mexiletine, a Na+ channel blocker, impacts the recovery from demyelination. Under anesthesia, 0.1% ethidium bromide was injected into the dorsal funiculus (T3), followed by a mexiletine or saline treatment Motor evoked potential (MEP) recordings and luxol fast blue stainings were performed at one, seven, 14, and 21 days post-operatively. Conduction was delayed during demyelination, but the mexiletine-injected group demonstrated shortened latencies and reductions in the demyelination area when compared to the control. These results suggest that systemic mexiletine plays a positive role in protecting neural tissues from demyelination. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.