Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Marta Raquel Lima"
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- Combined baclofen with pregabalin administration as a potential therapy for spinal cord injuryPublication . Ferreira, Marta Raquel Lima; Salgado, António; Sousa, Nídia de; Araújo, InêsSpinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurological impairment that hampers the communication between the brain and the rest of the body, resulting in permanent loss of motor function and sensory perception. After the injury, it is initiated a cascade of biological and biochem ical processes. No effective therapy for SCI has yet been developed, however several studies in distinct areas has been developed. The comorbidities that result from a SCI decrease the patient’s quality of life N evertheless, some approved drug can help to control some of these problems, such as baclofen and pregabalin. B aclofen and pregabalin are effective in controlling spasticity and neuropathic pain in people with SCI, but recently they have also been used to as potential therapies to treat the conseque nces induced by SCI. In these studies , it was found that baclofen could improve the locomotor function and act as a neuroprotector. Regarding to pregabalin, it was observed that this drug improve motor function, but could also induce axonal regeneration, a nd protect the spinal cord after an insult. The aim of these study was to evaluat e the effect of a combine baclofen with pregabalin administration after a transected SCI in mice. To do that , it was performed an in vivo experiment during six week, where it was assessed the animals´ behaviour and histological analysis. No motor improvements were observed, however treated animals achieved weight support. On this study one of the treated group s do not exhibit allodynia after SCI, confirmed by v on Frey test. Through the spinal cord tissue analysis, it was observed that the treatment not only promotes a better neuroprotection and an axonal regeneration after SCI, but also appears to induce a more controlled systemic inflammatory response. Overall, o ur study suggests that combined administration of baclofen with pregabalin leads to a neuroprotection and a neuroregeneration after SCI, but further studies need to be done to a better understanding of these strategy.