ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the protection effects of sodium ?-aescinate(SA) on the nervous function in the rats with early spinal cord injury(SCI). Methods One hundred and twenty SD rats were randomly divided into four groups(n=30).Rats in the blank control group were performed laminectomy only,while those in the other three groups were injured at the level of Tl1 spinal segment by Allen's weight drop method(10 g ?10 cm) and immediately intraperitoneally given normal saline(5.0 mg/kg)(control group), SA(5.0 mg/kg)(SA group) and methylprednisolone(100 mg/kg)(MP group) once daily,respectively.After 8 h,24 h,96 h,7 d and 14 d,spinal cord function change of posterior limb were determined with Rivlin method.The rats were sacrificed and the injured segments were resected for pathological analysis. Results As time prolonged,the rehabilitation of spinal cord function with various degree could be observed in each group.Function rehabilitation was found among the rats in the control group,SA group and MP group 96 h after injury,and more rehabilitation was gained later in the latter two groups,while that was not the case in the control group.Rats in the SA and MP group gained more significant rehabilitation than those in the control group(P0.05).It was revealed by pathological analysis that no necrotic neurons was found in the blank control group,and the necrotic neurons in the SA group and MP group were significantly less than the control group at the same time points(P