Systemic epothilone D improves hindlimb function after spinal cord contusion injury in rats.
In this study, we investigated the effects of epothilone D (Epo D), an analog of Epo B with a possible greater therapeutic index, on fibrotic scarring, axonal sprouting and functional recovery after SCI. Delayed systemic administration of Epo D after a moderate contusion injury (150 kDyn) in female Fischer 344 rats resulted in a reduced number of footfalls when crossing a horizontal ladder at 4 and 8 weeks post-injury. Hindlimb motor function assessed with the BBB open field locomotor rating scale and Catwalk gait analysis were not significantly altered. Moreover, formation of laminin positive fibrotic scar tissue and 5-HT positive serotonergic fiber length caudal to the lesion site were not altered after treatment with Epo D. These findings recapitulate a functional benefit after systemic administration of a microtubule-stabilizing drug in rat contusion SCI.
PMID: 29408734 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Experimental Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Sandner B, Puttagunta R, Motsch M, Bradke F, Ruschel J, Blesch A, Weidner N Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research