Retracted Article: Reduction of neuronal damage and promotion of locomotor recovery after spinal cord injury by early administration of methylprednisolone: possible involvement of autophagy pathway

Abstract

Autophagy is involved in the secondary damage associated with spinal cord injury (SCI), however, the role of autophagy remains to be elucidated. There are no reports regarding changes in autophagy after methylprednisolone (MP) treatment after acute SCI. In the present study, we examined changes in autophagy and apoptosis and explored the possible relationship between autophagy and apoptosis. We found that SCI produced by clamp force in rats caused apoptotic cell death in the injured area at different time points and MP treatment could significantly decrease the number of apoptotic cells; we also found that SCI could induce an increase in autophagy in the injured area and both neurons and astrocytes were co-stained with autophagic biomarkers, including microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 and Beclin-1, and an apoptotic biomarker, cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3; MP treatment could also promote the locomotor recovery after SCI. The results suggest an increase in autophagy after MP treatment may be a neuroprotective mechanism via inhibition of apoptosis.