J Korean Med Sci.  2004 Aug;19(4):574-580. 10.3346/jkms.2004.19.4.574.

Development of a Rat Model of Graded Contusive Spinal Cord Injury Using a Pneumatic Impact Device

• Yeo SJ
• Hwang SN
• Park SW
• Kim YB
• Min BK
• Kwon JT
• Suk JS

• KMID: 2157688
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2004.19.4.574

Abstract

An animal model of spinal cord trauma is essential for understanding the injury mechanisms, cord regeneration, and to aid the development of new therapeutic modalities. This study focused on the development of a graded experimental contusion model for spinal cord injury (SCI) using a pneumatic impact device made in Korea. A contusive injury was made to the dorsal aspect of the cord. Three trauma groups were defined according to the impact velocity (IV). A control group (n=6), received laminectomy only. Group 1 (n=10), 2 (n=10), and 3 (n=10) had IVs of 1.5 m/sec, 2.0 m/sec, and 3.5 m/sec respectively. Functional assessments were made up to the 14th day after injury. The cord was removed at the 14th post-injury day and prepared for histopathologic examination. Significant behavioral and histopathological abnormalities were found in control and each trauma group. All trauma groups showed severe functional impairment immediately after injury but following different rates of functional recovery (Fig. 5). As the impact velocity and impulse increased, the depth of contusive lesion revealed to be profound the results show that the rat model reproduces spinal cord lesions consistently, has a distinctive value in assessing the effects of impact energy.

Keyword

Models, Animal; Spinal Cord Injuries; Equipment and Supplies; Equipment Design

MeSH Terms

Animals
Behavior, Animal/physiology
Humans
Laminectomy
Male
*Models, Animal
Motor Activity/physiology
Random Allocation
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Recovery of Function
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
*Spinal Cord Injuries/pathology/therapy

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Photograph and diagram of pneumatic impact device (CAUH-2). A pneumatic impact controller regulates the flow of high pressure gas to the pneumatic piston. A, Gas; B, Sensor; C, Controller; D, Amplifier; E, Data acquisition board; F, Computer.

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  Fig. 2 Graph showing the relationship between the driving pressure to the impactor (range, 30-110 psi) and the velocity of the impact tip.

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  Fig. 3 Graph showing the relationship between the impact velocity and impulse.

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  Fig. 4 Graph showing the relationship between the impact velocity (A) and impulse (B) in each group. (Value: mean±standard deviation). *p<0.05 vs. group 1, †p<0.05 vs. group 2.

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  Fig. 5 The time course of functional recovery as measured for the control and experimental groups. (A) The BBB score, (B) Hind foot bar grab, (C) Platform hang.

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  Fig. 6 Representative coronal and sagittal sections of the lesions 14 days after the injury. The dorsal surface is at the top. The left panels are hematoxylin and eosin stain and the right are Luxol fast blue stain (Original magnification, ×40). The Luxol fast blue stain clearly reveals residual myelinated white matter that is restricted to a peripheral rim in the more severe injury groups. (A) control, (B) Group 1, (C) Group 2, (D) Group 3, (E, F) Higher power magnification of the ventral-lateral funiculus (the block demarcates the region of spared white matter, ×100). *: Cystic formation. (E, F) Higher power magnification of the ventral-lateral funiculus (the block demarcates the region of spared white matter, ×100).

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