Prostaglandin E1 analog increases spinal cord blood flow at the point of compression during and after experimental spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN

An in vivo study using a spinal cord compression model in rats.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on the change in thoracic spinal cord blood flow and on hind-limb motor function.

BACKGROUND

Until now, effect of PGE1 on spinal cord blood flow at the point of compression has not been tested.

METHODS

Our newly developed blood flow measurement system was a combination of a noncontact-type Laser Doppler system and a spinal cord compression device. The rat thoracic spinal cord was exposed and spinal cord blood flow at the point of compression was measured before, during and after compression. The functioning of the animals' hind-limbs was evaluated by the BBB Scale and by measuring the frequency of voluntary standing.

RESULTS

During the compression period, spinal cord blood flow was significantly higher in the PGE1-treated rats than in the control rats, which did not receive PGE1. After decompression, the spinal cord blood flow rapidly recovered to about 60% of the precompression level in the control rats. When the animals were treated with PGE1, blood flow after decompression reached about 90% of the precompression level.Twenty-gram compression for 40 mins induced motor deficiencies in the rat hind-limbs. The application of PGE1 significantly improved motor function of the rat hind-limbs after spinal cord injury.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of PGE1 increased spinal cord blood flow during and after spinal cord compression, and improved motor function after the spinal cord injury.