The Effect of Cigarette Smoke Exposure on Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Abstract

In this study, we examined whether cigarette smoke has neuroprotective or toxic effects on spinal cord injury (SCI). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were included in the study and received either cigarette smoke exposure or fresh air exposure. Twenty-four hours after the last cigarette smoke or fresh air exposure, all rats were injured at thoracic level 12 (T12), using an established static compression model. Our data showed that the cigarette smoke group had higher water content; higher permeability of the blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB); higher malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, aquaporin-4 (AQP4) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1a) protein expression, and mRNA levels; and lower glutathione (GSH) levels than the control group values at 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h after SCI. There was no significant difference in these between the cigarette smoke group and the control group at 0 h after SCI. The results of the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) hindlimb locomotor rating scale showed that rats in the cigarette smoke group had greater dysfunction in hindlimb movement than did rats in control group from 2 to day 6 after SCI. The extent of recovery did not make any difference from day 7 to day 10 after SCI between the cigarette smoke group and the control group. These results suggested that cigarette smoke can reinforce the oxidative stress injury via HIF-1a and AQP4 in the early stage after SCI. It is possible that cigarette smoke exposure does not affect SCI recovery in the long term; however, it can aggravate the edema and deteriorate BSCB disruption via HIF-1a and AQP4 in the early stage after SCI. More studies will be essential to consider this hypothesis and elucidate the mechanisms involved.

Effect of lycopene on the blood-spinal cord barrier after spinal cord injury in mice

“…Spinal cord edema induces openings in the BSCB, leading to an exchange of harmful substances between blood and tissue. Disruption of the BSCB elicits marked local inflammation with the infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, leading to cell death and permanent neurological disability (21,22). The current study found that lycopene significantly reduced the level of edema after SCI.…”

Exosomes Derived From Pericytes Improve Microcirculation and Protect Blood–Spinal Cord Barrier After Spinal Cord Injury in Mice

“…In addition, the loss of spinal cord blood perfusion following injury was mainly caused by rupture of blood vessels, which increased the permeability of BSCB with subsequent development of tissue edema. The disruption of BSCB resulted in the exchange of the harmful elements from blood and tissue and caused cell death and permanent neurological disability (Lee et al, 2012; Fan et al, 2013). Endothelial cells, pericytes, extracellular matrix, and TJs played key roles for the integrity of BSCB (Wolburg and Lippoldt, 2002).…”

Predicting the minimum clinically important difference in patients undergoing surgery for the treatment of degenerative cervical myelopathy

“…4 In addition, nicotine may worsen the severity of ischemia-reperfusion injury following decompression of the spinal cord, as demonstrated in models of myocardial infarction, brain injury, and necrotizing enterocolitis. 15,21,30 In clinical studies, smoking has been shown to be associated with poor wound and bone healing and increased rates of pseudarthrosis and nonunion.…”