The object of this investigation was to study the effects of Naloxone on histopathological changes in cats subjected thoracic cord contusion. Twenty cats were divided 4 groups : The first group was sham control(3 Cats). The second group was the impact group that was induced by T9 cord injury without treatment(6 Cats). The third group was the saline group that was induced by T9 cord injury and treatment with Saline(6 Cats). The fourth group was the Naloxone group that was induced by T9 cord injury and treatment with Naloxone(6 Cats). The histopathological evaluation of the injured spinal cords in Naloxone-treated Cats had less tissue damage than would be observed in time-matched standards. The histopathology in Saline-treated group had slightly better than typical of what we would expect in impact group.
The pathological lesion in spinal injury is usually more severe in the central gray matter and spreads centrifugally to surrounding white matter. Opiate antagonists, naloxone, by blocking the pathophysiologic effect of endorphins, should increase both mean arterial pressure and spinal cord blood flow and limit neurologic injury. Naloxone produce increase of lateral column blood flow and ameliorate the central gray matter ischemia. We have investigated to thoracic cord confusion. The spinal cord of naloxone-treated cats has less tissue damage than would be observed in time-matched standards.