RESUMEN
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition that puts the patient's life at risk in the acute phase and, during the chronic stage, results in permanent deficits in motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Isolated therapeutic strategies have not shown an effect on this condition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and curcumin, alone or combined, on the oxidative balance, motor function recovery and amount of preserved tissue following a traumatic SCI. Long-Evans rats were divided into five groups: SHAM, SCI, SCI + EA, SCI + Curcumin, and SCI + EA + Curcumin. Nitric oxide was significantly decreased in the Curcumin group; the EA, Curcumin and SCI + EA + Curcumin groups had significantly decreased hydroxyl radical and lipid peroxidation levels. Motor function recovery and the amount of preserved spinal cord tissue were significantly greater in the EA, Curcumin and EA + Curcumin groups. The results show that EA and Curcumin treatment alone or in combination decreased oxidative stress, improved functional motor recovery and increased the amount of preserved spinal cord tissue following a traumatic injury.
Asunto(s)
Electroacupuntura , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , Recuperación de la Función/efectos de los fármacos , Traumatismos de la Médula Espinal/terapia , Animales , Curcumina/farmacología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Electroacupuntura/métodos , Femenino , Peroxidación de Lípido/efectos de los fármacos , Estrés Oxidativo/fisiología , Ratas Long-Evans , Médula Espinal/efectos de los fármacos , Médula Espinal/fisiopatología , Traumatismos de la Médula Espinal/tratamiento farmacológicoRESUMEN
In the present study, the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the oxidative stress, the spinal cord tissue preservation and the recovery of motor function was evaluated after a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Long Evans rats were randomized into five groups: 1. Sham; 2. TSCI without treatment; 3. TSCI + EA (acupoint GV.4); 4. TSCI + EA (acupoint GV.26) and 5.TSCI + EA (GV.4 + GV.26). The EA was performed with an Electro-Acupunctoscope, AWQ-104L Digital, wave dense-dispersed, current intensity 2.5mA and frequency 2-100Hz for 30 minutes. The biochemical results showed a significant increase in the hydroxyl radical concentration in group 2 (3.1 ± 1.4 nmol) compared with groups 1 (1.8 ± 0.5 nmol) and 4 (2.4 ± 1.1 nmol) (p< 0.05), whereas in group 4 (4.8 ± 1.8 nmol), there was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation when compared with group 1 (1.7 ± 0.5 nmol) (p < 0.05). The BBB motor function score in the paralyzed hind limbs (normal BBB = 21points) was greater in groups 3 (15.2 points) and 5 (13.5 points) in comparison with groups 2 (11.4 points) and 4 (9.3 points) (p < 0.05). The quantity of preserved spinal cord tissue was greater in group 3 (6582.7± 20 µm2) than in groups 2 (5262.4 20 µm2), 4 (3995.6 ± 26µm2) and 5 (4266.7± 22 µm2). Although EA in GV.26 decreases hydroxyl radical concentration (50%), it significantly increases lipid peroxidation (45%), while stimulation of GV.4 decreases oxidative stress (15%), preserves spinal cord tissue (25%) and improves recovery of motor function in the hind limbs of rats with paralysis (18.1%) compared with untreated group. These findings suggest that EA in GV.4 may be a therapeutic alternative on TSCI.