ABSTRACT
Due to the complexity of pathological processes in spinal cord injury (SCI), it is increasingly recognized that combined strategies are more effective than single treatments. The aim of the present study was to enhance neural tissue regeneration and axon regrowth using Rho-A-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632) in a rat SCI model (Th9 compression) and to bridge the lesion with a chitosan/collagen porous scaffold (ChC-PS) applied two weeks after SCI. In addition, to see the synergic effect of Y-27632 and ChC-PS, we combined these single therapeutic strategies to enhance the regenerative capacity of injured spinal cord tissue. The animals survived eight weeks. Application of Y-27632 modulated the inhibitory milieu by specifically targeting gray and white matter integrity, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-immunoreactivity, and the outgrowth of neurofilaments and growth-associated protein-43 (GAP-43) immunoreactive axons across the lesion sites, leading to significant positive functional outcome from day 20 to 56. Compared to single treatments, combined Y-27632/ChC-PS therapy was more effective in neurofilaments and GAP-43 expression and GFAP immunoreactivity in the perilesional area of dorsal, lateral and ventral columns, and in enhancing the gray and white matter integrity throughout the cranio-caudal extent. The findings indicate that combined therapy provides a supportive environment for endogenous regenerative processes.