Abstract
Bupivacaine (BUP) has previously been shown to trigger neurotoxicity after spinal anesthesia. Further, ferroptosis has been implicated in the pathological processes associated with various central nervous system diseases. Although the impact of ferroptosis on BUP-induced neurotoxicity in the spinal cord has not been fully understood, this research aims to investigate this relationship in rats. Additionally, this study aims to determine whether ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), a potent inhibitor of ferroptosis, can provide protection against BUP-induced spinal neurotoxicity. The experimental model for BUP-induced spinal neurotoxicity involved the administration of 5% bupivacaine through intrathecal injection. Then, the rats were randomized into the Control, BUP, BUP + Fer-1, and Fer-1 groups. BBB scores, %MPE of TFL, and H&E and Nissl stainings showed that intrathecal Fer-1 administration improved functional recovery, histological outcomes, and neural survival in BUP-treated rats. Moreover, Fer-1 has been found to alleviate the BUP-induced alterations related to ferroptosis, such as mitochondrial shrinkage and disruption of cristae, while also reducing the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), iron, and 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE). Fer-1 also inhibits the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restores the normal levels of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), cystine/glutamate transporter (xCT), and glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, double-immunofluorescence staining revealed that GPX4 is primarily localized in the neurons instead of microglia or astroglia in the spinal cord. In summary, we demonstrated that ferroptosis play a pivotal role in mediating BUP-induced spinal neurotoxicity, and Fer-1 ameliorated BUP-induced spinal neurotoxicity by reversing the underlying ferroptosis-related changes in rats.