Effects of iloprost and piracetam in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rabbit

Study design: Experimental Study.Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of iloprost and piracetam on spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the rabbit.Settings: The Experimental Research Center of Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey.Methods: A total of 24 rabbits were divided into four groups of six rabbits each, as follows: group 1 (n=6) sham, laparotomy only; group 2 (n=6) I/R; group 3 (n=6) I/Riloprost; and group 4 (n=6) I/Rpiracetam. I/R was established in groups 2, 3 and 4. Subsequently, they were followed up neurologically for 24 h until the rabbits were killed; biochemical and histopathological examinations of samples from the spinal cord were carried out.Results: Neurological examination results were significantly better in the iloprost and piracetam groups compared with the I/R group (P<0.05). Neuroprotection was achieved with iloprost and piracetam by suppressing malondialdehyde (P<0.05), increasing glutathione peroxidase activity (P<0.05) and decreasing the xanthine oxidase level. In histopathological assessment, iloprost and piracetam groups were statistically different from the I/R group in terms of the number of apoptotic neurons in gray matter and white matter, as well as in terms of degenerated neurons and glial cells (P<0.05). No statistical difference was determined between the four groups in the number of degenerated glial cells (P>0.05).Conclusion: This study has shown that iloprost and piracetam have neuroprotective effects in I/R injury both neurologically and histopathologically because of inhibition of lipid peroxidation. © 2011 International Spinal Cord Society All rights reserved.