Docosahexaenoic acid improves motor function in the model of spinal cord injury

Publication date: 13 April 2018 Source:Neuroscience Letters, Volume 672 Author(s): Igor Manzhulo, Anna Tyrtyshnaia, Yuliya Kipryushina, Inessa Dyuizen, Ekaterina Ermolenko, Olga Manzhulo The present study demonstrates that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) injected subcutaneously leads to recovery of locomotor functions observed within 5 weeks after traumatic spinal cord injury. This activity is confirmed by improving of BBB locomotor rating scale indicators. We assume that this activity is related to (1) enhancement of remyelination process, (2) proliferative activity, (3) antioxidant activity, (4) increase in GFAP staining and (5) enhancement of vimentin expression. In general, the results of the study show that DHA has a complex effect on post-traumatic central nervous system recovery, indicating its high therapeutic potential. Graphical abstract
Source: Neuroscience Letters - Category: Neuroscience Source Type: research