The effect of urolithin A and pomegranate extract on mitophagy and inflammation in experimental spinal cord injury

Introduction: To investigate the effects of urolithin a and pomegranate extract applied after experimental spinal cord injury in rats on mitophagy and inflammatory parameters. Method: Our study was carried out in Bezmialem Vakif University Medical Faculty Experimental Animals Laboratory, immunohistochemistry studies in Bezmialem Vakif University Histology Laboratory, elisa and Western blot tests in Bezmialem Vakif University Beykoz Research Center Brain and Nerve Surgery Laboratory. Our study consisted of 4 groups and a total of 32 Sprague Dawley rats, 8 in each group, were used. T9-T10 laminectomy was performed in all experimental groups. The dura was exposed following laminectomy in groups other than the sham group, and damage was created by applying compression to the spinal cord with the Yaşargil Aneurysm Clip. While no treatment was given to the sham and trauma groups after trauma, urolithin a group was given 50 mg/kg urolithin a by gavage at 12, 24 and 36 hours. The pomegranate extract group was given 1 ml of pomegranate extract at 12, 24 and 36 hours. Subjects were subsequently sacrificed at 48 hours and damaged tissue samples from their spinal cords were obtained for immunohistochemistry, ELISA, and Western blot examination. Results: Statistically significant results were not obtained in the evaluation of IL-6 and TNF-α levels, which are inflammation markers, by ELISA. In immunohistochemical examination, the sham group was the group whose histological structure was best preserved in hematoxylin-eosin staining, while the pomegranate extract group was the closest group to the sham group. In immunostaining with Nix, the pomegranate extract group was statistically significantly lower than the trauma group. (p=0.020) Urolithin a group. Similarly, although it gave less reaction with nix, it was not found statistically significant. (p=0.769) A result parallel to these immunohistochemistry results was obtained in the evaluation of Nix with Western blot. Parkin, on the other hand, although an important molecule in mitophagy, did not yield significant results in the evaluation either by immunohistochemistry or Western blot. Conclusion: As a result of the data in our study, it was determined that urolithin a and especially pomegranate extract were effective in the treatment of traumatic spinal cord injury by reducing excessive mitophagy. Keywords: Traumatic spinal cord injury, urolithin a, pomegranate extract, mitophagy, inflammation