The effect of methylprednisolone intravenous infusion on the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor in a rat spinal cord injury model

Background context Methylprednisolone (MP) infusion after acute spinal cord injury (SCI) remains controversial despite large randomized studies, including the National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Studies (NASCIS). Purpose To determine the effect of NASCIS protocol MP infusion on the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), a neuroprotective cytokine, in a rat model after SCI. Study design Animal laboratory study. Methods Thirty rats were randomized into an MP infusion group (intravenous [IV]-MP) versus normal saline (NS) control group (IV-NS) after a standardized SCI. Ciliary neurotrophic factor expression was measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-SCI. Results Mean CNTF expression was diminished in the MP group at 12 (p=.006) and 24 (p=.008) hours postinjury compared with the control group. Expression of CNTF was not significantly different between the groups at 6, 48, and 72 hours post-SCI. Conclusions Standardized MP infusion post-SCI reduces CNTF activation in a rat SCI model. Further study is needed to determine if this effect is seen in human SCIs.