Prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and essential fatty acids
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Prostaglandins Leukot. Essent. Fatty Acids · Oct 2010
The acute administration of eicosapentaenoic acid is neuroprotective after spinal cord compression injury in rats.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of treatment with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) after spinal cord compression injury in adult rats. Saline or EPA (250 nmol/kg) was administered intravenously 30 min after compression injury. Locomotor recovery was assessed daily using the BBB open-field locomotor score. ⋯ Administration of EPA resulted in decreased axonal injury and increased neuronal and oligodendrocyte survival, in the lesion epicenter and adjacent tissue. The behavioural assessment mirrored the neuroprotective effects and showed a significantly improved functional recovery in animals treated with EPA compared to the saline-treated controls over the 7-day period. These observations suggest that EPA has neuroprotective properties when administered after spinal cord trauma.