Neuroprotective and functional recovery- promoting effect of WIN 55,212-2 treatment in a rat model of traumatic spinal cord injury

Abstract

Introduction: spinal cord injury (SCI) is a disabling condition that generates irreversible damage to sensory, motor, and autonomic function, for which there is no effective treatment that can reverse the damage. The highest incidence occurs in the economically active population (20-45 years). The physiology is very complex, however; excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis are known to be crutial in secondary damage mechanisms that lead to the loss of adjacent healthy tissue, so it is necessary to develop effective neuroprotective treatments. The use of synthetic cannabinoids such as WIN 55,212-2 (synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist) can be considered neuroprotective therapy since its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect has been reported in different pathologies. Objective: we evaluate the neuroprotective effect of WIN 55,212-2 in a spinal cord injury model in rats. Material and methods: we evaluated the participation of oxidative stress by measuring lipoperoxidation (LP) levels, caspase 8 and 3 activity as a marker of cell death by apoptosis, and functional recovery after SCI. Results: the findings showed, an increase in LP by effect of damage and a decrease when WIN 55,212-2 was administered. Likewise, an increase in the activities of caspases 3 and 8 was observed due to the effect of trauma that was not reversed by the treatment. Finally, the animals with WIN 55,212-2 showed a better functional performance when compared with the control group. Conclusions: with these results we were able to demonstrate that treatment with WIN 55,212-2 may have a therapeutic benefit after LTME, however, further studies are required.