Beneficial effect of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein on spinal cord injury recovery in the rat.

We assessed the effect of treatment with the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein (IRAP) on morphological and functional recovery in a rat model of SCI. All sections were processed for immunohistochemistry, hematoxylin-eosin, and Nissl staining. Rats were assessed for hind limb motor function using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) hind limb locomotor rating scale and the inclined plane test. At 1, 48, and 72 h after operation, there was a significant increase in neurofilament proteins and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in the IRAP group I when compared with the saline group I and the sham-operated group I (P < 0.05). The mean inclined plane scores and BBB scores for the IRAP group II were higher than the saline group II at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks post-injury (P < 0.05). In conclusion, treatment with IRAP enhanced neuronal survival after SCI.