Antioxidative effects of alpha-lipoic acid in spinal cord injury An experimental rat model

BACKGROUND: Traumatic and ischemic injuries of the spinal cord are effective in the development of neurological dysfunction of tissue damage caused by primary and secondary mechanisms. Free radical changes are effective in the development of early ischemia and progressive tissue ischemia is the main cause of secondary damage. Delaying ischemia is the basis of treatment. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the presence of neuroprotective effects of alpha-lipoic acid in comparison with methylprednisolone. METHODS: 50 Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups (n = 10) and spinal cord trauma was created by the method, described by Rivlin and Tator. Group 1: Laminectomy group, Group 2: Laminectomy + spinal cord injury (SCI), Group 3: Laminectomy + SCI + alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) (100 mg / kg), Group 4: Laminectomy + SCl + Methyl-prednisolone (30 mg / kg), Group 5: Laminectomy + SCl + ALA + Methyl-prednisolone. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Rats with spinal cord injury were found to be paraplegic. There was no significant change in motor function between the groups. When the antioxidant values were compared in the groups, there was a statistically significant difference between Group 2 and Group 3. Oxygen radicals decreased significantly between ALA and Methylprednisolone. The most striking difference was between the monotherapy group and the combined treatment group. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that alpha lipoic acid given after spinal cord trauma in rats decreases anti-oxidant formation.