LIPID-PEROXIDATION IN EXPERIMENTAL SPINAL-CORD INJURY - COMPARISON OFTREATMENT WITH GINKGO-BILOBA, TRH AND METHYLPREDNISOLONE

Ischaemia-induced lipid peroxidation is one of the most important fact ors producing tissue damage in spinal cord injury. In our study, the p rotective effects of Ginkgo biloba, thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) an d methylprednisolone (MP) on compression injury of the rat spinal cord were investigated. For this study 45 rats in four groups, including c ontrol, MP, TRH and Gingko biloba, were used to determine the formatio n of malondialdehyde (MDA). All the animals were made paraplegic by th e application clip method of Rivlin and Tator. Rats were divided rando mly and blindly to one of four treatment groups (ten animals in each). MP and Ginkgo biloba treatments significantly decreased MDA levels (F =54.138, P<0.01). These results suggest that MP and Ginkgo biloba may have a protective effect against ischaemic spinal cord injury by the a ntioxidant effect.