Inosine Improves Functional Recovery and Cell Morphology Following Compressive Spinal Cord Injury in Mice

This study investigates the potential of inosine to aid recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. SCI often leads to motor and sensory deficits, severely impacting life quality. The study explores how inosine affects behavioral and morphological recovery following a compressive injury. Mice were subjected to spinal cord compression and then treated with either inosine or saline. Over eight weeks, their motor skills, sensory functions, and spinal cord morphology were assessed to determine the impact of inosine on recovery. The results showed that inosine-treated mice had better preservation of white matter, reduced glial scarring and inflammation, and improved motor and sensory recovery, suggesting inosine can promote regeneration after SCI.

• 1
  Inosine treatment resulted in greater preservation of white matter in the spinal cord, as evidenced by immunostaining for oligodendrocytes and the number of myelinated fibers.
• 2
  Inosine reduced glial scar formation and inflammation, creating a more favorable microenvironment for spinal cord regeneration, indicated by lower immunoreactivity of astrocytes and macrophages.
• 3
  Inosine-treated animals demonstrated improved motor and sensory recovery, scoring higher on the BMS scale and showing better results on the pinprick test, suggesting a contribution to functional recovery.