Effects of methylprednisolone on the neural conduction of the motor evoked potentials in spinal cord injured rats

• Published in: Journal of Korean medical science 2005, 20(1), , pp.132-138
• Main Authors: Lee, Bae Hwan, Lee, Kyung Hee, Yoon, Do Heum, Kim, Un Jeng, Hwang, Yong Soon, Park, Sang Keun, Choi, Joong Uhn, Park, Yong Gou
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Electrophysiology; Evoked Potentials, Motor - drug effects; Free Radicals; Glucocorticoids - metabolism; Male; Methylprednisolone - pharmacology; Neurons - drug effects; Original; Oxygen - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptors, Glucocorticoid - metabolism; Sodium Chloride - pharmacology; Spinal Cord - pathology; Spinal Cord Injuries - drug therapy; Time Factors; 의학일반
• ISSN: 1011-8934; 1598-6357
• DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2005.20.1.132

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 saline-treated 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.