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The protective effect of 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA) against traumatic brain injury in rats

  • Experimental research
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Abstract

Background

The agent, 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA), is a synthetic small molecule, widely used as a systemic protective agent against chemotherapy toxicity, but is primarily used to reduce hemorrhagic cystitis induced by cyclophosphamide. Because MESNA has potential antioxidant and cytoprotective effects, so we hypothesized that MESNA may protect the brain against traumatic injury.

Method

Thirty-two rats were randomized into four groups of eight animals each; Group 1 (sham), Group 2 (trauma), Group 3 (150 mg/kg MESNA), Group 4 (30 mg/kg methylprednisolone). Only skin incision was performed in the sham group. In all the other groups, the traumatic brain injury model was created by an object weighing 450 g falling freely from a height of 70 cm through a copper tube on to the metal disc over the skull. The drugs were administered immediately after the injury. The animals were killed 24 h later. Brain tissues were extracted for analysis, where levels of tissue malondialdehyde, caspase-3, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase were analyzed. Also, histopathological evaluation of the tissues was performed.

Results

After head trauma, tissue malondialdehyde levels increased; these levels were significantly decreased by MESNA administration. Caspase-3 levels were increased after trauma, but no effect of MESNA was determined in caspase-3 activity. Following trauma, both glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels were decreased; MESNA increased the activity of both these antioxidant enzymes. Also, after trauma, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase levels were increased; administration of MESNA significantly decreased the levels of nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthetase and xanthine oxidase, promising an antioxidant activity. Histopathological analysis showed that MESNA protected the brain tissues well from injury.

Conclusions

Although further studies considering different dose regimens and time intervals are required, MESNA was shown to be at least as effective as methylprednisolone in the traumatic brain injury model.

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Conflicts of interest

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurosurgery Clinic, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Erdal Resit Yilmaz, Hayri Kertmen, Bora Gürer & Zeki Sekerci

  2. Refik Saydam National Public Health Agency, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Mehmet Ali Kanat

  3. Department of Pathology, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Ata Türker Arikok

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Berrin Imge Ergüder

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Askin Esen Hasturk

  6. Department of Anesthesiology, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Education and Research Hospital, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey

    Julide Ergil

  7. İrfan Bastug cad, S.B. Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, 1. Beyin Cerrahi Servisi, Ankara, Turkey

    Bora Gürer

Authors
  1. Erdal Resit Yilmaz
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Correspondence to Bora Gürer.

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Comment

In this experimental study, the authors try to perform biochemical and histopathological analysis about the neuroprotective effects of MESNA in TBI. The study is well conceived and their results sound to be reasonable. The authors concluded that MESNA may play a role in TBI by reducing lipid peroxidation and increasing antioxidant activity. On the other hand, no antiapoptotic activity of MESNA could be shown. The idea to use a well-known systemic protective agent against chemotherapy toxicity in TBI should be stuck at in order to obtain a clinical therapeutic application in TBI practice.

Alex Alfieri, Halle, Germany

David Hoza, Halle, Germany

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Yilmaz, E.R., Kertmen, H., Gürer, B. et al. The protective effect of 2-mercaptoethane sulfonate (MESNA) against traumatic brain injury in rats. Acta Neurochir 155, 141–149 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-012-1501-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-012-1501-3

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