Nano PGE1 promoted the recovery from spinal cord injury-induced motor dysfunction through its accumulation and sustained release

The effect of Nano PGE1 (nanoparticles containing prostaglandin E1) on spinal cord injury (SCI) was investigated in rat model. Nano PGE1 significantly and dose-dependently promoted the recovery from SCI-induced motor dysfunction, and the potency of Nano PGE1 was comparable with successive treatment of Lipo PGE1, and was superior to single treatment of Lipo PGE1.Distribution study revealed that Nano PGE1 sustained longer in the blood. In the injured spinal cord, gradual accumulation and longer retention were observed. Lipo PGE1 was also accumulated with time, but over 10 fold less. It should be noted that over 80 fold more of PGE1 were detected in Nano PGE1-treated injured spinal cord as compared with that in normal ones.Nano PGE1-treated injured spinal cord had less lesion cavity with increased MBP expression. Also, HGF production significantly increased as compared with that of SCI control.These findings could lead to the conclusion that Nano PGE1 had the therapeutic potential for SCI, which might be partly ascribed by the efficient distribution of Nano PGE1 to the injured spinal cord. The sustained release of PGE1 would have increased HGF production, and both would have promoted cell survival and endogenous repair.

Graphical AbstractNano PGE1 (nanoparticles containing prostaglandin E1) significantly promoted the recovery from hindlimb motor dysfunction induced by spinal cord injury in rats.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide