Analysis of serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels after rat spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion injury and correlation with tissue damage.

AIM A rat model of spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion was conducted and the serum cytokine levels and histopathological changes were assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned into four experimental groups. Group-A (the sham operated rats) and group-B (the spinal ischemia/reperfusion group) were sacrificed at 24 hours postoperatively while group-C (the sham operated rats) and group-D (the spinal ischemia/reperfusion group) were sacrificed at 48 hours. Histopathological changes in the spinal cords and serum cytokine levels were analysed. RESULTS All three proinflammatory cytokine levels reached significantly higher levels compared to the sham operated groups in both the 24-hour and 48-hour spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion groups. CONCLUSION Inflammation is a plausible pathway in spinal cord ishemia/reperfusion injury. However clinical treatment of the damage does not currently include antiinflammatory therapy. The results of our study supported the hypothesis that inflammatory responses could play a possible role in the ischemia/reperfusion injury of the spinal cord. Characterization of the role of inflammation in the etiopathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion injury to the spinal cord is important to facilitate the development of novel therapeutic approaches for prevention and/or treatment of this severe condition.