• Volkan Hanci, Alaeddin Kerimoğlu, Kenan Koca, Aykut Başkesen, Kemal Kiliç, and Didem Taştekin.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Sarikamiş Military Hospital, Kars, Turkey. vhanci@gmail.com
• Ulus Travma Acil Cer. 2010 Jan 1; 16 (1): 15-21.

BackgroundIn this study, we investigated the biochemical effectiveness of methylprednisolone, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and methylprednisolone combined with NAC treatment in experimental spinal cord injury in rats.MethodsThirty-two Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 250-300 g were divided into four groups. Spinal cord injury was created extradurally with an aneurysm clip at the T4-T5 level. Following the trauma, Group C (Control group, n:8) was not given any treatment. Group M (methylprednisolone group, n:8) was treated with 30 mg x kg(-1) methylprednisolone followed by a maintenance dose of 5.4 mg x kg(-1) per hour. Group N (NAC group, n:8) was given 150 mg x kg(-1) NAC. Group MN (methylprednisolone and NAC group, n:8) was given 30 mg x kg(-1) followed by an hourly maintenance dose of 5.4 mg x kg(-1) methylprednisolone and 150 mg x kg(-1) NAC intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hours after the trauma, the rats were decapitated under anesthesia, and their spinal cord samples were taken for biochemical examination.ResultsMean malonyldialdehyde (MDA) values in Groups M, N and MN were significantly reduced compared to Group C. Mean superoxide dismutase (SOD) values in Groups M, N and MN were significantly higher than in Group C (p<0.05). No difference existed between Groups M and N with respect to mean MDA and SOD values.ConclusionMethylprednisolone, NAC and methylprednisolone plus NAC treatments have potential biochemical benefits in preventing secondary injury in experimental spinal cord injury in rats.

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