Evaluation of protective effects of the alpha lipoic acid after spinal cord injury: An animal study

Purpose: Many of the hypotheses have been suggested to explain the mechanism of the secondary effects of traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) as follows: ischaemia/reperfusion disability theory, free radicals theory, exitotoxicity theory, immunological destruction theory, apoptosis theory. Recently, free radicals, lipid peroxidation reactions and apoptosis theories have been much more accepted than others. In this study, possible protective effects of the alpha lipoic acid were evaluated in the traumatic spinal cord of rats. Methods: Using a well characterised weight drop technique, spinal cord contusions were formed to 48 Wistar albino rats at thoracal 8-10 level. After alpha lipoic acid and methylprednisolone were administered intraperitoneally, the spinal cord tissues were harvested for histopathological and biochemical studies. Results: Histopathological examination results showed that neither methylprednisolone nor alpha lipoic acid can play an act to decrease or block the neural tissue destruction and necrosis in hyperacute and subacute stage of the TSCI in rats. Biochemical study results showed that alpha lipoic acid was much more decreased the lipid peroxidation levels than methylprednisolone in subacute stage. However, none of the agents was changed the myeloperoxidation level in subacute stage. Interpretation: Alpha lipoic acid and methylprednisolone administrations did not alter the onset or degree of necrosis at the zone of the TSCI in rats. On the other hand, alpha lipoic acid is more effective than methylprednisolone treatment for the prevention of lipid peroxidation after spinal cord injury. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.