1.Effects of Methylprednisolone on the Neural Conduction of the Motor Evoked Potentials in Spinal Cord Injured Rats.
Bae Hwan LEE ; Kyung Hee LEE ; Do Heum YOON ; Un Jeng KIM ; Yong Soon HWANG ; Sang Keun PARK ; Joong Uhn CHOI ; Yong Gou PARK
Journal of Korean Medical Science 2005;20(1):132-138
Methylprednisolone (MP), a glucocorticoid steroid, has an anti-inflammatory action and seems to inhibit the formation of oxygen free radicals produced during lipid peroxidation in a spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the effects of MP on the functional recovery after a SCI is controversial. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of MP on the recovery of neural conduction following a SCI. A SCI was produced using the NYU spinal cord impactor. A behavioral test was conducted to measure neurological disorders, and motor evoked potentials (MEPs) were recorded. According to the behavioral test, using BBB locomotor scaling, MP-treated animals showed improved functional recoveries when compared to salinetreated animals. MEP latencies in the MP-treated group were shortened when compared to those in the control group. Peak amplitudes of MEPs were larger in the MP-treated group than those in the control group. The thresholds of MEPs tended to be lower in the MP-treated group than those in the control group. These results suggest that MP may improve functional recovery after a SCI.
Animals
;
Disease Models, Animal
;
Electrophysiology
;
Evoked Potentials, Motor/*drug effects
;
Free Radicals
;
Glucocorticoids/metabolism
;
Male
;
Methylprednisolone/*pharmacology
;
Neurons/*drug effects
;
Oxygen/metabolism
;
Rats
;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
;
Receptors, Glucocorticoid/metabolism
;
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
;
Sodium Chloride/pharmacology
;
Spinal Cord/pathology
;
Spinal Cord Injuries/*drug therapy
;
Time Factors