Premarin improves outcomes of spinal cord injury in male rats through stimulating both angiogenesis and neurogenesis.

Abstract

To ascertain whether Premarin improves spinal cord injury outcomes in male rats by stimulating both angiogenesis and neurogenesis. Chi Mei Medical Center research laboratory. Male Sprague-Dawley rats 240-258 g. Anesthetized rats, after the onset of spinal cord injury, were divided into two groups and given the vehicle solution (1 mL/kg of body weight) or Premarin (1 mg/kg of body weight). Saline or Premarin solutions were administered intravenously and immediately after spinal cord injury. Premarin (an estrogen sulfate) causes attenuation of spinal cord injury-induced spinal cord infarction and hind limb locomotor dysfunction. Spinal cord injury-induced apoptosis as well as activated inflammation was also significantly Premarin-reduced. In injured spinal cord, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and production of an antiinflammatory cytokine were all Premarin therapy-promoted. Our results indicate that Premarin therapy may protect against spinal cord apoptosis after spinal cord injury through mechanisms stimulating both angiogenesis and neurogenesis in male rats.