RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of intrathecally administered ketorolac tromethamine on ultrastructural changes of the spinal cord in spinal cord-traumatised rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were used and divided into three groups for this study. The rats in Group S (n=6) were control animals and received 10 mul of saline. Groups K50 (n=6) and K400 (n=6) received intrathecally 50 mug and 400 mug of ketorolac tromethamine, respectively, immediately after trauma was induced. All rats underwent laminectomy and the spinal cord was traumatised using the clip-compression technique. Electron microscopic examination of the cord samples was carried out 3 days after spinal cord injury. RESULTS: Ultrastructural findings showed severe injury with extensive axoplasmic and cytoplasmic oedema in Group S. Minor neural damage occurred in Group K50 and increased ultrastructural protection was observed in the Group K400. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that intrathecal administration of ketorolac tromethamine protects the spinal cord following injury in rats.
