The purpose of the present work was to assess the effect of methylprednisolone (MP) on subacutely contused spinal cord (SC) areas subjected to mechanic-enzymatic manipulation (M-EM), performed as a prior step to transplantation. Nine days after severe SC contusion all rats were subjected to sagittal myelotomy at the injured site. The necrotic and scarring tissues were removed by light aspiration, and by the use of a mixture of collagenase and hyaluronidase. MP was first administered IP (30 mg/kg) to ten rats, immediately before M-EM. Ten control rats did not receive MP. Nine days after M-EM, histological examination showed a significantly smaller SC parenchymal destruction in MP treated rats compared with control group.