Nimodipine Promotes Functional Recovery After Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2021 · DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.733420 · Published: September 13, 2021

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Pain Management

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition that results in motor, sensory, and autonomic dysfunction. Nimodipine (NMD), a calcium channel blocker, has shown potential in treating neuronal injury. This study evaluates long-term NMD treatment in rats with SCI, monitoring motor skills, pain behaviors, and bladder function to determine NMD's effectiveness. The findings suggest that long-term NMD treatment improves functional recovery after SCI, offering a potential therapeutic strategy.

Study Duration

12 weeks

Participants

Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats (260–300 g)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Long-term NMD administration improves locomotor function in rats with SCI without affecting hind limb grip strength.
2
NMD-treated rats showed significantly higher withdrawal thresholds, indicating an attenuation of pain-related behaviors.
3
Long-term NMD treatment alleviates spasticity-like symptoms, as evidenced by the restored rate-dependent depression of the H-reflex.

Research Summary

This study investigates the effects of long-term nimodipine (NMD) administration on functional recovery in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). The results indicate that NMD improves locomotor function, attenuates pain-related behaviors, and alleviates spasticity-like symptoms in SCI rats. The study suggests that NMD may be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of SCI due to its neuroprotective effects and impact on tissue preservation.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

Nimodipine may be a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of SCI.

Functional Recovery

Long-term treatment with Nimodipine promotes functional recovery after SCI in rats.

Gliosis Reduction

Nimodipine reduces gliosis and CGRP+ fiber sprouting in the lumbar spinal cord, and increases expression of KCC2 on lumbar motor neurons.

Study Limitations

1
The study only used female rats, limiting the generalizability of the findings to male rats.
2
High-level SCI may result in neurogenic shock, limiting the use of NMD alone for treatment.
3
The route and optimal dose of NMD for SCI were not examined.

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