Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of Proanthocyanidin on motor after spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. Methods 36 healthy adult SD rats were divided into groups A, B and C (n=12), and SCI was induced with Allen's mode (250 g·mm) on T9. Proanthocyanidin 40 mg/kg was injected intraperitoneally for group A, methylprednisolone (MP) 30 mg/kg for group B and the same volume of saline for group C 30 min after SCI. 1 d, 3 d and 7 d after operation, all the rats were assessed with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale and slanting board test, and their serumal malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected. Results The scores of BBB and the slanting board test imporoved more in group A and group B than in group C (P<0.05). The SOD increased and MDA decreased in groups A and B significantly 1 d and 3 d after operation compared with those of group C (P<0.05), and only in group A 7 d after operation (P<0.05). Conclusion Proanthocyanidin may inhibit the lipid peroxidation and promote the recovery of motor after spinal cord injury in rats.

Key words: Proanthocyanidin, spinal cord injury, motor, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde