The study of neuroprotective effects of Cannabis sativa seed alcoholic extract on degeneration of alpha motoneurons in spinal cord after sciatic nerve compression in rats

One of the problems in prepheral nervous system defeats is the return of these defeats to cellular body of those neurons which their axons are destroyed. The aim of this study is carried out to examine the neuroprotective effects of alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa. In this study forty eight adult male wistar rats were divided to eight groups (control، compression، six experimental groups). In compression and experimental groups right sciatic nerve were highly compressed for 30 s، assigned to experimental groups (Compression + alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa injections 25، 50،75،100mgkg -1، ip، 2 and 4 time) (N=6). After 4 weeks post-operative the lumbar segments of spinal cord after perfusion method were sampled، tissue processed، sectioned serially and stained with toluidine blue. By using stereological quantitative technique، the number of alpha motoneurons in the right horn of spinal cord were counted and compared with each other. Statistical analyses showed remarkable increase in the number of alpha motoneurons in the groups with dosage (50، 25 mg kg -1) in compared to compression (p<0. 05). Results show that alcoholic extract of Cannabis sativa in low dosegs probably could increase neuronal density moto neuron in anterior horn of spinal cord after sciatic nerve injury in rat.