Affiliation:
1. Department of Orthopedics, Taizhou Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Taizhou, China
2. Department of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Taizhou Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Taizhou, China
3. Department of Emergency and Intensive Care Unit, The First People's Hospital of Linhai, Taizhou, China
Abstract
<i>Purpose</i>: The treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) is a clinical challenge. The study attempted to investigate the effects of Tanshinone IIA on SCI in rats. <i>Methods</i>: The SCI model of rat was established based on Allen's animal model. The rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: Control, Sham, SCI model, SCI + Tanshinone IIA. Rats were administrated with Tanshinone IIA (30mg/kg) respectively daily within one week after establishment of SCI model. Scores of Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) was evaluated on the 1<sup>st</sup>, 3<sup>rd</sup>, 5<sup>th</sup> and 7<sup>th</sup> day after operation. Rats were sacrificed seven days after SCI, and the pathological injury of spinal cord tissue was assessed by HE staining. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) were detected by ELISA. <i>Results</i>: On the 7th day after operation, the BBB score of SCI + Tanshinone IIA group was significantly better than that of SCI group (P<0.01). Compared with SCI group, the pathological changes, neuronal pyknosis, hemorrhage, inflammatory infiltration, and white matter cavity formation in SCI + Tanshinone IIA group were reduced. Compared with SCI group, the level of IL-1 β and TNF-α in SCI+ Tanshinone IIA group were significantly lower (P<0.01). <i>Conclusion</i>: Tanshinone IIA can significantly improve motor function inhibit inflammation and repair spinal cord function after SCI.