Effects of Jisuikang on hemorheology and inflammatory factors in rats following spinal cord injury*☆

BACKGROUND： Trauma can damage the spinal cord or cauda equina to different degrees. Previous studies have verified that traditional Chinese medicine has effects on spinal cord injury via a variety of pathways. OBJECTIVE： To observe changes in hemorheology and inflammatory factors in spinal cord injury rats following treatment with the Chinese medicine Jisuikang, to verify the dose-dependent effect of Jisuikang, and to compare its effects with the effects of prednisone. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized study was performed at the Research Institute of Orthopedics, and Experimental Center of First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China from September 2007 to March 2008. MATERIALS： Jisuikang powdered extract, composed of milkvetch root （30 g）, Chinese angelica （12 g）, red peony root （12 g）, earthworm （10 g）, szechwan lovage rhizome （10 g）, peach seed （10 g） and safflower （10 g） was provided by the Experimental Center, First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese medicine. Each gram of powdered extract was equivalent to 6.47 g crude drug. METHODS： A total of 72 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into 6 groups （n = 12）. Rat models of spinal cord injury were established using the occlusion method. Rats in the model group were treated with distilled water. Rats in the 25 g/kg, 12.5 g/kg, and 6.25 g/kg Jisuikang groups were given 25 g＆g, 12.5 g/kg, or 6.25 g/kg Jisuikang by gavage, for 14 days. Rats in the prednisone group received 0.06 g/kg prednisone by gavage, for 7 days. Rats in the normal group were given the same volume of distilled water. The volume of administration was 15 mL/kg. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Rat serum interleukin-10, tumor necrosis factor- α （TNF-α ）, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase levels, malondialdehyde content, superoxide dismutase activity and whole blood viscosity were measured in each group. Spinal cord around the site of the model was collected. Half the

Effects of Jisuikang on hemorheology and inflammatory factors in rats following spinal cord injury

spinal cord injury traditional Chinese medicine neural regeneration