THE EFFECT OF RILUZOLE ON POSTTRAUMATIC SPINAL-CORD INJURY IN THE RAT

THIS study evaluated treatment with riluzole, a neuroprotective agent, following thoracic spinal cord compression in the rat. Animals receiv ed riluzole (2 mg kg(-1)) or vehicle twice daily for 10 days following the trauma. Motor deficits, somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) and lesion histology were evaluated. Although paralysis was seen followin g trauma, seven of 10 animals receiving riluzole recovered motor funct ion and nearly normal behaviour, unlike animals receiving vehicle. Tra uma dramatically disturbed SEPs with falls in amplitude and increases in latency. After riluzole SEP returned towards pre-injury levels, whi le untreated animals showed no recovery. Morphological studies reveale d significant (53%) reduction in the degree of spinal cord infarcted a fter riluzole treatment.