Effects of resveratrol on secondary spinal cord edema and activity of lactic dehydrogenase and ATPase in experimental spinal cord injury of rats

AIM To study the effects of resveratrol on secondary spinal cord edema and the activity of lactic dehydrogenase and Na +, K + ATPase in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI)rat. METHODS The weight dropping method was used to produce the experimental spinal cord injury in adult rats. Resveratrol (Res) and methylprednisolone (MPSS) were intraperitoneally by the bolus injections of 50 mg·kg -1 , 100 mg·kg -1 and 100 mg·kg -1 , respectively, immediately after the induction of SCI. And then the effects of Res were observed at 1 h, 24 h, 48 h after SCI compared with MPSS. RESULTS Res could obvious inhibit the secondary spinal cord edema with the most remarkable suppressing rate by 11 5% at 48 h. Res was able to significantly suppress the activities of the lactic dehydrogenase with the highest suppressing rate for over 40% at 24 h. In the meantime, Res markedly improved the Na +, K + ATPase activities that promoted to the biggest extent to 60% at 48 h. The effects of Res were the same as or even stronger than those of MPSS. CONCLUSION Res may effectively protect the spinal cord from secondary spinal cord edema and improve the energy metabolism system in SCI. It suggested that Res may be having potent therapeutic effect on SCI.