Original Article

Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 167–170. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101672 Published online 2 November 2004

Improved functional outcome after spinal cord injury in iNOS-deficient mice

J Isaksson1, M Farooque1,2 and Y Olsson1

  1. 1Research Group of Neuropathology, Department of Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University Hospital, Sweden
  2. 2Neurobiology Research Laboratory, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, USA

Correspondence: J Isaksson, Department of Neurology, Karolinska Hospital, S-17176, Stockholm, Sweden

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Abstract

Study design:

 

Functional outcome was evaluated following experimental compression-type spinal cord injury (SCI) in wild-type mice and knockout mice, lacking the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene.

Objectives:

 

To evaluate the role of the nitric oxide generating enzyme iNOS in SCI.

Methods:

 

The experimental animals were subjected to an extradural compression of the thoracic spinal cord. Functional outcome was studied during the first 2 weeks post-injury using a scoring system for assessment of hind limb motor function.

Results:

 

Injury resulted in initial paraplegia followed by gradual improvement of motor function in most cases. Mice lacking the iNOS gene (iNOS-/-) clearly tended to have a better functional outcome than wild-type mice. The difference was significant on day 14 after injury.

Conclusion:

 

In accordance with a few earlier experimental studies, showing beneficial effects of pharmacological iNOS inhibition, the present report would indicate a destructive influence of iNOS following spinal cord trauma.

Keywords:

spinal cord injury, mouse, nitric oxide, iNOS

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