Abstract: [Abstract] Objective   To investigate the protective effect of ebselen on mitochondrial damage,the expression of Cytochrome C and the neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord injury in rats.Methods   Sixty adult SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups( 12 each group).Spinal cord injury model was made by Allen's method. Sham operation group received only laminectomy; SCI group received laminectomy and spinal trauma; Saline group received saline(0.1%DMSO) after injury, methylprednisolone group received 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone,ebselen group received 10 mg/kg ebselen intraperitoneally (i.p.).The malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathion(GSH）level at the injured sites of the spinal cord at 24 hours after trauma were detected, the expression of Cytochrome C was observed,and the neuronal apoptosis was identified by TUNEL staining.Results   The level of MDA in the ebselen group was significantly lower than that in the SCI group ,and the level of GSH was significantly elevated in the ebselen group(P<0.01).Expression of Cytochrome C in ebselen group was lower than that in SCI group by Western bloting,and the neuronal apoptosis reduced significantly(P<0.01).Conclusion   Ebselen can alleviate the peroxidation，prohibit expression of Cytochrome C and inhibit neuronal apoptosis，thus it shows a protective effect to experimental acute SCI.

Key words: spinal cord injuries, mitochondrion, malondialdehyde, Glutathione, cytochromes c, neuron, cell cycles, 依布硒啉