Dexmedetomidine alleviates the spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury through blocking mast cell degranulation.

Objective: To investigate the neuro-protective effects of dexmedetomidine (dex) on I/R-induced spinal injury and potential mechanisms.

Methods: sprague-Dawley rats in the treatment group received intraperitoneal injections of 25 mg/kg dexmedetomidine, MC stabilizer cromolyn (100 mg/kg), MCs stimuliser compound 48/80 (80 mg/kg), PBS at 24 h befor IR. Underwent 5 minutes of aortic occlusion via median sternotomy, functional scores were recorded at 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after reperfusion.