Korean J Pain.  2016 Apr;29(2):86-95. 10.3344/kjp.2016.29.2.86.

Comparison of Mechanical Allodynia and Recovery of Locomotion and Bladder Function by Different Parameters of Low Thoracic Spinal Contusion Injury in Rats

• Carter MW
• Johnson KM
• Lee JY
• Hulsebosch CE
• Gwak YS

• KMID: 2365350
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.2016.29.2.86

Abstract

BACKGROUND
The present study was designed to examine the functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI) by adjusting the parameters of impact force and dwell-time using the Infinite Horizon (IH) impactor device.
METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats (225-240 g) were divided into eight injury groups based on force of injury (Kdyn) and dwell time (seconds), indicated as Force-Dwell time: 150-4, 150-3, 150-2, 150-1, 150-0, 200-0, 90-2 and sham controls, respectively.
RESULTS
After T10 SCI, higher injury force produced greater spinal cord displacement (P < 0.05) and showed a significant correlation (r = 0.813) between the displacement and the force (P < 0.05). In neuropathic pain-like behavior, the percent of paw withdrawals scores in the hindpaw for the 150-4, 150-3, 150-2, 150-1 and the 200-0 injury groups were significantly lowered compared with sham controls (P < 0.05). The recovery of locomotion had a significant within-subjects effect of time (P < 0.05) and the 150-0 group had increased recovery compared to other groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the 200-0 and the 90-2 recovered significantly better than all the 150 kdyn impact groups that included a dwell-time (P < 0.05). In recovery of spontaneous bladder function, the 150-4 injury group took significantly longer recovery time whereas the 150-0 and the 90-2 groups had the shortest recovery times.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates SCI parameters optimize development of mechanical allodynia and other pathological outcomes.

Keyword

Blood brain barrier; Bladder function; Locomotion; Neuropathic pain; Spinal cord injury; Parameters; Rats

MeSH Terms

Animals
Blood-Brain Barrier
Contusions*
Hyperalgesia*
Locomotion*
Neuralgia
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spinal Cord
Spinal Cord Injuries
Urinary Bladder*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The relationship between actual force of impact and actual spinal cord displacement. All programmed injury mode produced consistent actual injury outcomes. In comparison of injury force (A) and displacement (B), the 200 kdyn group (*P < 0.05) and 90 kydn group (#P < 0.05) showed significant difference compared to 150 kdyn group, respectively. However, the all 150 kdyn groups did not show significant differences, suggesting the programmed injury mode produced consistent outcomes. (C) Scatter plot with linear regression graph revealed significant correlation between the actual force and the tissue displacement. Data are plotted as mean ± S.E.

• 

  Fig. 2 BBB rank scores of hindlimb locomotor function after SCI with varying impact forces and dwell-times. (A) The 150 kdyn with no dwell-time (150-0) group (*P < 0.05) showed the most improvement over time. Five days after SCI, 200-0 and 90-2 groups showed significant differences compared to 150-3 group (#P < 0.05). (B) The 150-0 group resulted in a significantly higher BBB score than all other injury groups at this time point (*P < 0.05). The both 200-0 and 90-2 groups showed significant differences compared with 150-0 groups (#P < 0.05). Data are plotted as mean ± S.E.

• 

  Fig. 3 Histogram of paws withdrawal responsiveness to von Frey filaments. Mechanical allodynia was evident at both forelimbs (A) and hindlimbs (B), respectively. 150 kdyn with dwell time groups showed mechanical allodynia at both 4 and 5 wks after SCI whereas other groups showed variable patterns. (*P < 0.05 for 4 weeks and $P < 0.05 for 5 weeks compared to sham group, respectively). Data are plotted as mean ± S.E.

• 

  Fig. 4 The duration of bladder dysfunction until onset of spontaneous bladder voiding. Note that the 150-4 group took significantly longer to recover function than all other groups (*P < 0.05). The 150-0 and 90-2 groups showed significant differences compared with 150 kdyn with dwell time groups (#P < 0.05). Additionally, the 200-0 injury group recovered more quickly than the 150-1 and 150-2 groups ($P < 0.05). Data are shown as mean days post-injury for full bladder voiding ± S.E.

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