Korean J Spine.  2013 Mar;10(1):14-18. 10.14245/kjs.2013.10.1.14.

Comparative Analysis Between Thoracic Spinal Cord and Sacral Neuromodulation in a Rat Spinal Cord Injury Model: A Preliminary Report of a Rat Spinal Cord Stimulation Model

• Hyun SJ
• Lee CH
• Kwon JW
• Yoon CY
• Lim JY
• Kim KJ
• Jahng TA
• Kim HJ

• KMID: 1424291
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14245/kjs.2013.10.1.14

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to compare a neuroprotective effect of thoracic cord neuromodulation to that of sacral nerve neuromodulation in rat thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) model.
METHODS
Twenty female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the normal control group (n=5), SCI with sham stimulation group (SCI, n=5), SCI with electrical stimulation at thoracic spinal cord (SCI + TES, n=5), and SCI with electrical stimulation at sacral nerve (SCI + SES, n=5). Spinal cord was injured by an impactor which dropped from 25mm height. Electrical stimulation was performed by the following protocol: pulse duration, 0.1ms; frequency, 20 Hz; stimulation time, 30 minutes; and stimulation duration at thoracic epidural space and S2 or 3 neural foramina for 4 weeks. Locomotor function, urodynamic study, muscle weights, and fiber cross sectional area (CSA) were investigated.
RESULTS
All rats of the SCI + TES group expired within 3 days after the injury. The locomotor function of all survived rats improved over time but there was no significant difference between the SCI and the SCI + SES group. All rats experienced urinary retention after the injury and recovered self-voiding after 3-9 days. Voiding contraction interval was 25.5+/-7.5 minutes in the SCI group, 16.5+/-5.3 minutes in the SCI+SES group, and 12.5+/-4.2 minutes in the control group. The recovery of voiding contraction interval was significant in the SCI + SES group comparing to the SCI group (p<0.05). Muscle weight and CSA were slightly greater in the SCI + SES than in the SCI group, but the difference was not significant.
CONCLUSION
We failed to establish a rat spinal cord stimulation model. However, sacral neuromodulation have a therapeutic potential to improve neurogenic bladder and muscle atrophy.

Keyword

Electrical stimulation; Spinal cord injury; Neuroprotection; Neuromodulation

MeSH Terms

Animals
Contracts
Electric Stimulation
Epidural Space
Female
Humans
Muscles
Muscular Atrophy
Neuroprotective Agents
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Salicylamides
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal Cord Stimulation
Tromethamine
Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic
Urinary Retention
Urodynamics
Weights and Measures
Neuroprotective Agents
Salicylamides
Tromethamine