Nicotine attenuates neurological deficits in rats after spinal cord contusion

Wise Young · 02-18-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Ravikumar R, Fugaccia I, Scheff SW, Geddes JW, Srinivasan C and Toborek M (2005). Nicotine attenuates morphological deficits in a contusion model of spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma 22: 240-51. Protection against the progression of secondary injury appears to be an effective therapeutic strategy in spinal cord injury (SCI). Evidence indicates that nicotine can induce potent neuroprotective effects against injury to spinal cord neurons. Therefore, the present study was focused on the effects of nicotine on the behavioral and morphological recovery associated with SCI. Adult male Long-Evans rats were subjected to a moderate contusion model of SCI and received subcutaneous injections of nicotine for 14 days at the dose of 0.35 or 7 mg/kg/day. The rats were examined using the BBB locomotor rating scale for 6 weeks. At the end of the BBB recording, spinal cords were examined for the volumetric tissue sparing of gray and white matters. All SCI rats demonstrated a loss of hindlimb function followed by a recovery phase that peaked at 2-3 weeks after the trauma. Compared to untreated SCI rats, chronic nicotine administration appeared to improve the recovery of the locomotor functions. Indeed, nicotine-treated animals scored consistently higher on the BBB scale indicating that the treatment altered animal behavior. However, when taking under consideration correction factors for multiple comparisons, these data did not reach significance at overall experimental levels of significance 0.05. Nevertheless, nicotine administration was effective in sparing tissue at injury epicenter and a lower dose of nicotine also resulted in significant sparing of white matter of the injured spinal cord. These results suggest that agonists of neuronal nicotinic receptors can be attractive candidates for SCI therapy. Department of Surgery, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky.

Wise Young · 02-19-2005, 09:02 AM

I want to emphasize that this study should not be construed to mean that smoking is good for people with spinal cord injury. Wise.

walkanotherday · 02-19-2005, 10:55 AM

I'm not a smoker but I do have an occasional cuban with my buddies. When I do the neruopathic pain or tingling goes crazy. This also happened when I had a cigarrette once after gettng out of rehab. Any clues to why

Wise Young · 02-19-2005, 11:05 AM

Walk,

In the chatroom last night, I heard two other people describe an experience like yours. It very interesting and suggests strongly that part the mechanism of dysesthesia and tingling sensations that people experience after spinal cord injury is through acetylcholinergic nicotonic receptors. These belong to the sympathetic nervous system.

Let me expand here on why people with chronic spinal cord injury should not smoke. There are several reasons why nicotine is not good for people with chronic spinal cord injury. The first is of course the cardiovascuular and respiratory complications associated with smoking. According to a recent Harvard study that I posted to the Care Forum, cardiovascular and respiratory problems account for 64% of deaths of people with chronic spinal cord injury. Second, it significantly increases the risk of bladder cancer, particularly in people who have indwelling catheters. Third, nicotine causes vasoconstriction of the peripheral vasculature. In other words, if you have cold feet or hands, it will make them colder by reducing blood flow. A large number of people who have chronic spinal cord injury also have diabetes. The combination of diabetes and smoking is deadly.

Wise.

Bspill1 · 02-19-2005, 11:26 AM

The few drags off a cigarette always gets my butt burning. I always thought I was just trippin out.

Brian
http://bspill1.home.comcast.net/index1.html

walkanotherday · 02-19-2005, 11:38 AM

Wise,
Chronic, spinal cord injury refers to MS and other similar diseases?

If you remember, I probably has some kind ischemic event that caused my T10 injury. That is considered a traumatic event right?

Are traunatic injuries at risk to the same cardiovascular and respiratory problems? I would think level of injury is a factor.

brazzel · 02-19-2005, 02:30 PM

i went back to smoking 2 yrs after injury dumb
but i can relate my butt stomach feet legs go nut with tingling burning and oh so cold and i only take a drag. its nuts. i am so stupid to do it butt....

Wise Young · 02-19-2005, 02:37 PM

brazzei, yes, not smart.

walk, I think that the risk is true for injury to the spinal cord from any cause, whether MS or ischemia. Of course, the risk of serious cardiorespiratory complications is higher for people with cervical spinal cord levels but the bladder cancer risk is real for any level of injury.

Wise.

sbdspray · 02-19-2005, 06:15 PM

walkanotherday-
Please tell me your entire history and progression of paralysis. I suffer a T12 injury due to all to similar circumstances.

sherman brayton

Susan Fajt · 02-19-2005, 11:58 PM

I too have noticed an obvious tingling sensation when/if i smoke. Always thought about posting a question about this because i felt there was something to it, now i know there is... However, the sensation is not comfortable nor normal, but never the less it is more sensation! This is bizarre and i will think about it some more... If a cig. can cause sensation that is not a good feeling, but *could* be helpful for recovery then there must be something that would make people who suffer with severe neuropathic pain decrease if they smoked something else? I dunno... Also, this might suggest that neuropathic pain is a pathway to regeneration? BTW- i am not a regular smoker, but definatly feel this is very interesting information!
Godspeed~
Susan

Maybe cig. companies will support spinal cord injuries... (laughing & kidding)

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02-19-2005, 09:02 AM	#2
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,974	I want to emphasize that this study should not be construed to mean that smoking is good for people with spinal cord injury. Wise.

02-19-2005, 10:55 AM	#3
walkanotherday Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 102	I'm not a smoker but I do have an occasional cuban with my buddies. When I do the neruopathic pain or tingling goes crazy. This also happened when I had a cigarrette once after gettng out of rehab. Any clues to why

02-19-2005, 11:05 AM	#4
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,974	Walk, In the chatroom last night, I heard two other people describe an experience like yours. It very interesting and suggests strongly that part the mechanism of dysesthesia and tingling sensations that people experience after spinal cord injury is through acetylcholinergic nicotonic receptors. These belong to the sympathetic nervous system. Let me expand here on why people with chronic spinal cord injury should not smoke. There are several reasons why nicotine is not good for people with chronic spinal cord injury. The first is of course the cardiovascuular and respiratory complications associated with smoking. According to a recent Harvard study that I posted to the Care Forum, cardiovascular and respiratory problems account for 64% of deaths of people with chronic spinal cord injury. Second, it significantly increases the risk of bladder cancer, particularly in people who have indwelling catheters. Third, nicotine causes vasoconstriction of the peripheral vasculature. In other words, if you have cold feet or hands, it will make them colder by reducing blood flow. A large number of people who have chronic spinal cord injury also have diabetes. The combination of diabetes and smoking is deadly. Wise.

02-19-2005, 11:26 AM	#5
Bspill1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: SF, CA Posts: 1,018	The few drags off a cigarette always gets my butt burning. I always thought I was just trippin out. Brian http://bspill1.home.comcast.net/index1.html

02-19-2005, 11:38 AM	#6
walkanotherday Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 102	Wise, Chronic, spinal cord injury refers to MS and other similar diseases? If you remember, I probably has some kind ischemic event that caused my T10 injury. That is considered a traumatic event right? Are traunatic injuries at risk to the same cardiovascular and respiratory problems? I would think level of injury is a factor.

02-19-2005, 02:30 PM	#7
brazzel Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 67	i went back to smoking 2 yrs after injury dumb but i can relate my butt stomach feet legs go nut with tingling burning and oh so cold and i only take a drag. its nuts. i am so stupid to do it butt....

02-19-2005, 02:37 PM	#8
Wise Young Administrator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: New Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 37,974	brazzei, yes, not smart. walk, I think that the risk is true for injury to the spinal cord from any cause, whether MS or ischemia. Of course, the risk of serious cardiorespiratory complications is higher for people with cervical spinal cord levels but the bladder cancer risk is real for any level of injury. Wise.

02-19-2005, 06:15 PM	#9
sbdspray Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: katonah , ny, usa Posts: 494	walkanotherday- Please tell me your entire history and progression of paralysis. I suffer a T12 injury due to all to similar circumstances. sherman brayton

02-19-2005, 11:58 PM	#10
Susan Fajt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 494	I too have noticed an obvious tingling sensation when/if i smoke. Always thought about posting a question about this because i felt there was something to it, now i know there is... However, the sensation is not comfortable nor normal, but never the less it is more sensation! This is bizarre and i will think about it some more... If a cig. can cause sensation that is not a good feeling, but could be helpful for recovery then there must be something that would make people who suffer with severe neuropathic pain decrease if they smoked something else? I dunno... Also, this might suggest that neuropathic pain is a pathway to regeneration? BTW- i am not a regular smoker, but definatly feel this is very interesting information! Godspeed~ Susan Maybe cig. companies will support spinal cord injuries... (laughing & kidding)