Therapeutic efficacy of SJA6017, a calpain inhibitor, in rat spinal cord injury.

Apoptosis is an important element of the secondary processes that occur after spinal cord injury. Calpain and caspases are key proteases in apoptotic cell death. We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of SJA6017 (a calpain inhibitor) and measured functional recovery in a rat spinal cord injury model.

Tauroursodeoxycholic acid and secondary damage after spinal cord injury in rats.

Greater clinical understanding of the pivotal role of apoptosis in spinal cord injury (SCI) has led to new and innovative apoptosis-based therapies for patients with an SCI. Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is a biliary acid with antiapoptotic properties. To our knowledge, this is the first study in the English language to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of TUDCA in an experimental model of SCI.

Neuroprotective effects of Ac.YVAD.cmk on experimental spinal cord injury in rats.

Background: Apoptosis as a cell death mechanism is important in numerous diseases, including traumatic SCI. We evaluated the neuroprotective effects of Ac.YVAD.