Aprikalim a potassium adenosine triphosphate channel opener reduces neurologic injury in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia

Abstract Background Potassium adenosine triphosphate (K ATP ) channel openers have been involved in the enhancement of ischemic tolerance in various tissues. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effects of aprikalim, a specific K ATP channel opener, on spinal cord ischemic injury. Methods Fifty-four rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups: group 1 ( n  = 18, sham operation), group 2 ( n  = 18, 30 min of normothermic aortic cross-clamping) and group 3 ( n  = 18, aprikalim 100 μg/kg was administered 15 min before 30 min of normothermic aortic cross-clamping). Neurologic evaluation was performed according to the modified Tarlov scale. Six animals from each group were sacrificed at 24, 48 and 168 h postoperatively. The lumbar spinal cords were harvested and examined histologically. The motor neurons were counted and the histologic lesions were scored (0–3, 3: normal). Results Group 3 (aprikalim group) had better Tarlov scores compared to group 2 at all-time points ( P P P  = 0.03). Although aprikalim exhibited improved effect on clinical and histologic neurologic outcome when compared to normothermic spinal cord ischemia, animals in group 3 had worse Tarlov score, reduced number of motor neurons and worse histologic score when compared to group 1 (sham operation) at 168 h ( P  = 0.003, P  = 0.001 and P  = 0.019 respectively). Conclusion Aprikalim reduces the severity of spinal cord ischemic injury in a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia.