Relationship between endothelin and blood spinal cord barrier breakdown following spinal cord injury

Objective:To elucidate the relationship between endothelin (ET) and blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) breach after spinal cord injury (SCI).Method: Sprayue Dawleys rats (n=24) were divided into four groups, i,e, uninjured with vehicle, uninjured with ET 1, Injured with vehicle and injured with PD145065. In the first study, uninjured groups were administered vehicle or ET 1 (10ng) intrathecally. In the second study, Injured groups received vehicle or PD145065 (50μg, nonselective ETR antagonist) 10minutes prior to SCI. The permeability of BSCB was evaluated quantitatively using Evans blue. Tissue edema was determined by percentage water content. Result: ET 1 increased the contents of Evans blue and water in the uninjured cord (P0 01). The contents of Evans blue and water in the injured cord were higher than that of sham (P0 01). PD145065 decreased the amount of Evans blue and water in the traumatized cord (P0 01).Conclusion: ET plays a role in breakdown of BSCB following SCI. ET receptor antagonist has potent therapeutic effect on SCI. Author′s address Department of Orthopedies, 1st Teaching Hospital of Sun Yat sen University of Medical Sciences,Guangzhou,Guangdong,510080