ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to investigate the eff ects of caff eic acid phenethyl ester on prevention of secondary damage in spinal cord injury through determination of malondialdehyde levels in rats.

Thirty adult Wistar albino rats were randomized into three groups. Spinal cord injury was performed by the weight-drop model. Group 1 (control) underwent laminectomy followed by spinal cord injury and received no medication. Group 2 underwent laminectomy followed by spinal cord injury and received caff eic acid phenethyl ester (10 micromol/kg). Group 3 underwent laminectomy followed by spinal cord injury and received methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Twenty four hours later, blood samples were obtained, then serum malondialdehyde levels were determined and results were compared.

Malondialdehyde levels in the control group was higher than the caffeic acid phenethyl ester and methylprednisolone groups (respectively Group 1 and 2 p <0.003 Group 1 and 3 p<0.001). Furthermore,malondialdehyde levels in the methylprednisolone group were lower than the caff eic acid phenethyl ester group (Grup 2 ve 3 p<0.036).

In our study, caff eic acid phenethyl ester decreased MDA levels compared to the control group, however the lowest MDA levels were determined in the methylprednisolone group. Based on these results, , caff eic acid phenethyl ester may be another neuroprotective agent in spinal cord injury in addition to methylprednisolone.

Keywords: Caff eic acid phenethyl ester, spinal cord injury, malondialdehyde