The effect of exogenous oxygen treatment after spinal cord trauma on secondary spinal cord edema in rabbits

Objective To observe the effects of exogenous oxygen treatment on the change of histology after spinal cord injury in rabbits.Methods An injured model of L 2 spinal cord was produced by the Allen's method.The control group received no treatment.Oxygenated compound liquid was give in one group,and compound liquid was given in another group intravenously 30 min after injury.Five rabbits in the test and control group each were sacrificed successively at 48?h,3?d,7?d,4 weeks,after trauma.The amount of MDA and the water content of spinal tissue were determined,and pathomorphological changes of spinal cord were observed.Results The water content of spinal cord within 48?h,3?d,7?d was (69.14±0.92)%,(71.93±0.87)%,and(71.63±1.01)% respectively in the oxygenated compound liquid group;MDA was (28.54±5.98)?μmol/g,(27.81±3.64)?μmol/g,and (26.14±4.26)?μmol/g respectively,lower significantly than in the control one (P 0.01). Morphologic findings of oxygenated compound liquid group revealed slighter degeneration and necrosis in gray and white matter than in control group.Conclusion Exogenous oxygen treatment had protective effects on the secondary spinal cord edema induced by the trauma.