Current neurovascular research
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Spinal cord injury remains a devastating complication of thoracic and thoracoabdominal aortic operations. We aimed to investigate neuro-protective role of melatonin administered to rabbits before ischemia against ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Occlusion of the abdominal aorta was applied to adult rabbits, followed by removal of aortic clamp and reperfusion. ⋯ Histopathologic analyses demonstrated typical morphologic changes characteristic of necrosis in I/R group. Melatonin attenuated ischemia-induced necrosis. Melatonin administration may significantly reduce the incidence of spinal cord injury following temporary aortic occlusion.