ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of glutamine (Gln) on the content of reduced glutathione hormone (GSH) and aminoglutaminic acid (Glu) of spinal cord following ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods Totally 40 healthy adult male rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: sham-operation group (S group), ischemia-reperfusion injury group (I/R group), low-dose glutamine group (L Gln group), median-dose glutamine group (M Gln group) and high-dose glutamine group (H Gln group). After glutamine preconditioning, the model of spinal cord ischemia-reporfasion injury was established according to Zivin's method. The general status of animals was observed and the changes of Jacobs scoring were recorded in each group. Malondialdehydes (MDA), GSH, Glu and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in lumbar spinal cord tissues were determined using chemical colorimetry. The neuron number and deviation rate in spinal cord anterior horn were observed histopathologically. Results There was no significant difference between L Gin group and I/R group in behavior scoring, SOD activity, content of MDA and Glu, neuron number and deviation rate of spinal cord (P>0.05); however, there was a significant difference in GSH content of spinal cord (P<0.05). M Gln group and I/R group differed significantly (P<0.05) in behavior scoring, SOD activity, content of MDA, Glu, GSH, neuron number and deviation rate of spinal cord. Between H Gln group and M Gln group, there was no significant difference in behavior scoring, content of MDA and Glu, SOD activity, neuron number and aberration rate in spinal cord (P>0.05), whereas there was a significant difference in SOD activity and Giu content (P<0.05). Conclusion Pretreatment with medium-dose glutamine has a protective effect on spinal cord ischemia-reporfasion injury in rabbits, which may be related to the maintenance of GSH content, increase of SOD activity and reduction of MDA.