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Therapeutic effects of rapamycin and surgical decompression in a rabbit spinal cord injury model

Cell Death & Disease, 2020 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-020-02767-5 · Published: July 10, 2020

Spinal Cord InjuryPharmacologySurgery

Simple Explanation

This study investigates potential treatments for spinal cord injuries (SCI) using rapamycin (RAPA) and surgical decompression in rabbits. The study found that combining rapamycin with surgical decompression led to better outcomes in rabbits with SCI, reducing inflammation and nerve damage. The researchers also explored how pressure within the spinal cord (IMP) affects a process called autophagy, which helps cells clear out damaged components. They discovered that high IMP impairs autophagy after SCI.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Healthy female Japanese white rabbits weighing 2.0 ± 2.5 kg and aged 2.5 ± 3.0 months
Evidence Level
Not specified

Key Findings

  • 1
    Combination therapy (rapamycin and surgical decompression) significantly reduced intramedullary pressure (IMP) and inhibited apoptosis after SCI.
  • 2
    The combined therapy significantly improved autophagic flux after SCI, more so than either treatment alone.
  • 3
    Combination therapy improved the number of neurons and inhibited demyelination after SCI.

Research Summary

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of RAPA and decompression, in combination or separately, on the histopathology of the injured spinal cord in a rabbit model of SCI. The combination therapy achieved a better effect compared with RAPA/surgical decompression alone. Furthermore, our data indicate that increased IMP after SCI inhibited autophagic degradation and impaired autophagic flux. Decompression improved autophagic flux after SCI.

Practical Implications

Emergency Treatment Improvement

The combination therapy may effectively improve emergency treatment after SCI and promote the therapeutic effect of decompression.

Understanding of Autophagy

This study also contributes to a better understanding of the effects of mechanical pressure on autophagy after neurotrauma.

New Treatment for SCI

The results of this study showed that RAPA treatment combined with surgical decompression therapy had better histopathological effects in rabbits with SCI compared with RAPA/surgical decompression alone, and it is expected to become a new treatment for SCI.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    IMP measurements would be more accurate in large animals (such as rabbits), but the sample size would be smaller.
  • 2
    This combination therapy should be further studied to evaluate its therapeutic potential as a method for treating SCI.
  • 3
    Studies have reported that autophagic flux increases with injury severity and plays different roles in mild and severe injury

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