Neuroprotective Effects of Niacin on Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury of the Rabbit Spinal Cord

-OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown niacin has neuroprotective effects on the central nervous system. However, its specific effect on spinal cord ischemia/ reperfusion injury has not yet been explored. This study aims to evaluate whether niacin can contribute neuro-protective effects on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. -METHODS: Rabbits were randomized into 4 groups of 8 animals: group I (control), group II (ischemia), group III (30 mg/kg methylprednisolone, intraperitoneal), and group IV (500 mg/kg niacin, intraperitoneal). The rabbits in group IV were premedicated with niacin for 7 days prior to inducing ischemia/reperfusion injury. The control group was subjected only to a laparotomy, while the remaining groups underwent spinal cord ischemia through a 20-minute occlusion of the aorta caudal to the left renal ar-tery. Following the procedure, levels of catalase, malon-dialdehyde, xanthine oxidase, myeloperoxidase, and caspase-3 were analyzed. Ultrastructural, histopatholog-ical, and neurological evaluations were also performed. -RESULTS: Spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury resulted in increased levels of xanthine oxidase, malon-dialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and caspase-3, with a concomitant decrease in catalase levels. Treatment with methylprednisolone and niacin led to decreased levels of xanthine oxidase, malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase, and caspase-3 and an increase in catalase. Both methylpred-n isolone and niacin treatments demonstrated improve-ments in histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological assessments. -CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that niacin has antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuro-protective effects at least equal to methylprednisolone in ischemia/reperfusion injury of the spinal cord. This study is the first to report the neuroprotective impact of niacin on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of niacin in this context.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of niacin on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury. Rabbits were divided into four groups and treated with different interventions. The results showed that treatment with niacin and methylprednisolone led to improvements in histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological assessments. The study suggests that niacin has similar neuroprotective effects to methylprednisolone in this type of injury.