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AIM: To evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of felbamate in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. MATERIAL and METHODS: Twenty-one male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups (n=7 each): control, ischemia, and felbamate-treated. Transient spinal cord ischemia was induced by abdominal aortic occlusion for 20 minutes, followed by reperfusion. Felbamate was administered via a nasogastric tube immediately after reperfusion at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Twenty-four hours after surgery, tissue caspase-3 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, spinal cord sections were evaluated histopathologically using a semiquantitative composite injury score, and neurological function was assessed using the modified Tarlov scoring system. RESULTS: Tissue caspase-3 levels differed significantly across the three groups (ANOVA, F=205.19, p.