Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Oleuropein in Experimental Rat Spinal Cord Trauma

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord injury stimulates an inflammatory reaction that causes substantial secondary damage inside the injured spinal tissue. The purpose of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of oleuropein on traumatized spinal cord. METHODS: Rats were randomly divided into four groups of 7 rats each as follows: Sham-operated group, trauma group, and oleuropein treatment groups (20 mg/kg, ip, immediately and 1 hour after spinal cord injury). Spinal cord samples were taken 24 hours after injury and studied for immunohistochemistry of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), nitrotyrosine, inducible nitricoxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). RESULTS: Attenuated TNF-α, IL-1ß, nitrotyrosine, iNOS, COX-2, and PARP expression could be detected in the oleuropein-treated rats. CONCLUSION: Oleuropein modulates inflammatory reactions following spinal cord injury.