Neuroprotective effect of magnesium on lipid peroxidation and axonal function after experimental spinal cord injury.

Abstract

An experimental study examining the neuroprotective effect of magnesium on axonal function and lipid peroxidation in a rat model of acute traumatic spinal cord injury. To determine the effectiveness of postinjury treatment with magnesium on evoked potentials and lipid peroxidation after spinal cord injury (SCI). Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. Spinal cord injury occurred in 30 rats with an aneurysm clip at T9 and the rats were randomly assigned to undergo subcutaneous administration of one of the following at 1 h after injury: (1) Physiological saline (n = 10); (2) MgSO4, 300 mg/kg (n = 10) and (3) MgSO4, 600 mg/kg (n = 10). Spinal somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) were recorded before injury, 30 min after injury and 3 h after injections. Rats were killed 24 h after the injury, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured. Following SCI, there were significant decreases in the amplitudes of P1 and N1 (P<0.001) and only high-dose magnesium improved the SSEPs (P<0.01). On the other hand, there was significant difference in lipid peroxide content between high-dose magnesium treated group and both of saline treated and low-dose magnesium treated groups (P<0.01). These results suggest that magnesium has a dose-dependent neuroprotective effect on SSEPs and lipid peroxidation after experimental spinal cord injury.