Objective: Identifying mechanisms that prevent neuronal inflammation and apoptosis can offer promising approaches to prevent and treat neuronal degeneration in spinal cord injury (SCI). The latest research confirms the antioxidant action of melatonin (Mel), the hormone that regulates biological rhythms in all mammals. Additionally, sesame oil is traditionally used to treat inflammation. According to recent findings, the nervous system and gonadal hormones also interact reciprocally. One of the most famous regulators of cell death and apoptosis is p53. This study investigated the effects of exogenous Mel, sesame oil, and gonadal steroid deprivation on p53 and GPx-1 expression, as one of the most important antioxidant enzymes, following SCI.
Methods: Forty-two female Wistar rats were divided into seven groups. Three weeks after OVX, SCI was created using an aneurysm clip at the T9-T10 level, followed by intraperitoneal (IP) sesame oil and Mel subcutaneously (SC) for 3 weeks. The p53 level was studied by western blotting and real-time PCR. Moreover, the remyelination process was studied using luxol fast blue staining.
Results: The animals receiving sesame oil and Mel showed significantly less demyelination and higher GPx-1 levels than the OVX-SCI groups (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05). Additionally, the level of p53 in treated animals was significantly lower than in non-treated animals.
Conclusion: It is hypothesized that the combination of sesame oil and Mel might suppress apoptosis, enhance myelination and neuronal survival, and restore functional recovery in animals. Whether this ability is clinically valuable in human subjects needs clarification and more clinical research on SCI.
Keywords: GPx-1; Spinal cord injury; melatonin; ovariectomy; p53; sesame oil.