Evaluation of Neuroprotective Efficacy of Gabapentin in Experimental Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the neuroprotective efficacy of gabapentin in experimental spinal cord injury.

Material and Method: Twenty-four Wistar albino female rats with normal motor activity were studied in four groups. They were anesthesized with 35 mg/kg ketamine plus 5 mg/kg xylazine. Laminectomy alone was performed in the first group (sham, n=3) while laminectomy was performed together with induction of injury in the second group (control, n=7). In the third group (drug, n=7), gabapentin (150 mg/kg, IV) was administered 2 hours after the the onset of injury. In the fourth group (drug, n=7), gabapentin (150 mg/kg, IV) was used 5 minutes before the induction of injury. Spinal cord injury was performed by applying Yaşargil aneurysm clip. Neurobehavioral tests were done in all groups at days 1, 10, 20, and 30. All rats were sacrified at day 30 and tissue samples from the injury site were investigated histologically with the usage of hematoxylin&eosin and anticaspase-3 dyes.

Results: According to the results of the neurobehavioral tests and histological evaluations, recovery in gabapentin administered groups was significantly better when compared with the others Also, results of the fourth group was significantly better than those of the third.
Conclusion: Administration of gabapentin was found to improve neurobehavioral and histological recovery from spinal cord injury in rats.