Comparison of the Effects of Methotrexate and Methylprednisolone in Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Abstract

There are many biochemical and inflammatory reactions which develop due to the effect of secondary spinal cord injury (SCI) which is also called secondary cord damage. SCI can also create edema during acute stage. This study was designed to assess the probable protective effects of low-dose methotrexate and methylprednisolone in the spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.

A total of 100 Wistar albino rats having weights in the range 250–350 g were used for this experiment. All the animals were divided into 5 groups. Laminectomy was performed in which SCI was induced using a temporary aneurysm clip. After clip compression, methotrexate and/or methylprednisolone was administered intraperitoneally. Control group is at 0 grades as there is no damage in the spinal cord tissue. MTX and MP treated groups are at grade 1 as they showed mild damage in spinal cord tissue. But the group 4 and group 5 also showed the grade 1 as they were treated with combination of both MTX and MP. Neither methotrexate nor methylprednisolone was shown to decrease the histopathological grade in either stage of SCI. Low-dose methotrexate was shown to decrease lipid peroxidation levels only in the sub-acute stage of SCI. Low dose methotrexate is more effective as compared to methylprednisolone in secondary spinal cord injury.

Key words

spinal cord injury - methotrexate - methylprednisolone - lipid peroxidation

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