• Gulce Gel, Caner Unluer, Erdal Resit Yılmaz, Berrin Imge Erguder, Ata Turker Arıkok, Serkan Sener, Huseyin Hayri Kertmen, and Mehmet Erhan Turkoglu.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Diskapi Education and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: gulcegel@gmail.com.
• World Neurosurg. 2024 Aug 1; 188: e25e33e25-e33.

ObjectiveThis study investigates the neuroprotective effects and functional recovery potential of Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and ozone therapy in spinal cord injury (SCI).Material And MethodsIn this study, 40 female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups of 8. Surgical procedures induced spinal cord trauma in all groups, except the control group. The ozone group received 0.7 mg/kg rectal ozone daily for 7 days, starting 1 hour postspinal cord trauma. The CoQ10 group was administered 120 mg/kg CoQ10 orally once daily for 7 days, beginning 24 hours prior to trauma. The CoQ10 + ozone group received both treatments. Examinations included a modified Tarlov scale and inclined plane test on days 1, 3, 5, and 7. Malondialdehyde (MDA) analysis was conducted on serum samples, and assessments of caspase-3, Bcl-2, and Bax levels were performed on tissue samples. Additionally, a comprehensive examination analyzed histopathological and ultrastructural changes.ResultsAfter SCI, there was a statistically significant increase in serum MDA, tissue caspase-3, and Bax levels (MDA P < 0.001, caspase-3 P < 0.001, Bax P = 0.003). In the CoQ10 + ozone group, serum MDA (P = 0.002), tissue caspase-3 (P = 0.001), and Bax (P = 0.030) levels were significantly lower compared to the trauma group. Tissue Bcl-2 levels were also significantly higher (P = 0.019). The combined treatment group demonstrated improved histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological outcomes.ConclusionsThis study shows that CoQ10 + ozone therapy in traumatic SCI demonstrates neuroprotective effects via antioxidant and antiapoptotic mechanisms. The positive effects on functional recovery are supported by data from biochemical, histopathological, ultrastructural, and neurological examinations.Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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