Maryam Soleimani - Department of Medical Basic Sciences, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Seyed Behnamedin Jameie - Neuroscience Research Center (NRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Sajad Hassanzadeh - Neuroscience Research Center (NRC), Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

The roles of the immune response as potential mediators of secondary damage in spinal cord injury (SCI) are being investigated. Research is also being done to determine the effects of female gonadal steroids, which decrease during menopause, and antioxidants, such as Sesame oil on SCI. We hypothesized that in the absence of female gonadal steroids, which provide protection following an SCI, Sesame oil could modulate the expression of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin (IL)-10, The spinal cord was compressed at the level of the T10 vertebrae and rats were treated by 4 mL/kg/day as IP Sesame oil for 3 weeks after surgery. The TNF-alphaand IL-10 expressions were studied using an ELISA. The level of TNF-alpha significantly decreased following the administration of Sesame oil compared with the level of IL-10. Based on our findings, Sesame oil could be used to compensate secondary damage in SCI.

Sesame Oil, TNF-alpha, Spinal Cord Injury, Rat Menopausal Model