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J Reconstr Microsurg 2012; 28(08): 561-568
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1315779
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Air Gun Impactor—A Novel Model of Graded White Matter Spinal Cord Injury in Rodents

Wiesław Marcol
1   Department of Physiology, Center of Excellence for Research and Teaching of Matrix Biology and Nanotechnology, Network of CoE BioMedTech Silesia; School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 4, Katowice, Poland
,
Wojciech Ślusarczyk
1   Department of Physiology, Center of Excellence for Research and Teaching of Matrix Biology and Nanotechnology, Network of CoE BioMedTech Silesia; School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 4, Katowice, Poland
,
Marek Gzik
2   Institute of Mining Technology KOMAG, ul. Pszczyńska 37, Gliwice, Poland
,
Magdalena Larysz-Brysz
1   Department of Physiology, Center of Excellence for Research and Teaching of Matrix Biology and Nanotechnology, Network of CoE BioMedTech Silesia; School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 4, Katowice, Poland
,
Michał Bobrowski
2   Institute of Mining Technology KOMAG, ul. Pszczyńska 37, Gliwice, Poland
,
Beata Grynkiewicz-Bylina
2   Institute of Mining Technology KOMAG, ul. Pszczyńska 37, Gliwice, Poland
,
Paulina Rosicka
3   Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, H. Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Science, ul. Radzikowskiego 152, Kraków, Poland
,
Katarzyna Kalita
3   Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, H. Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Science, ul. Radzikowskiego 152, Kraków, Poland
,
Władysław Węglarz
3   Department of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, H. Niewodniczanski Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Science, ul. Radzikowskiego 152, Kraków, Poland
,
Jarosław J. Barski
1   Department of Physiology, Center of Excellence for Research and Teaching of Matrix Biology and Nanotechnology, Network of CoE BioMedTech Silesia; School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 4, Katowice, Poland
4   Center for Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 4, Katowice, Poland
,
Katarzyna Kotulska
5   Department of Neurology and Epileptology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, Al.. Dzieci Polskich 20, Warsaw, Poland
,
Krzysztof Łabuzek
6   Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Silesia, Medyków 18, Katowice, Poland
,
Joanna Lewin-Kowalik
1   Department of Physiology, Center of Excellence for Research and Teaching of Matrix Biology and Nanotechnology, Network of CoE BioMedTech Silesia; School of Medicine in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, ul. Medyków 4, Katowice, Poland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

31 December 2011

22 February 2012

Publication Date:
18 June 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Understanding mechanisms of spinal cord injury and repair requires a reliable experimental model. We have developed a new device that produces a partial damage of spinal cord white matter by means of a precisely adjusted stream of air applied under high pressure. This procedure is less invasive than standard contusion or compression models and does not require surgical removal of vertebral bones. We investigated the effects of spinal cord injury made with our device in 29 adult rats, applying different experimental parameters. The rats were divided into three groups in respect to the applied force of the blast wave. Functional outcome and histopathological effects of the injury were analyzed during 12-week follow-up. The lesions were also examined by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The weakest stimulus produced transient hindlimb paresis with no cyst visible in spinal cord MRI scans, whereas the strongest was associated with permanent neurological deficit accompanied by pathological changes resembling posttraumatic syringomyelia. Obtained data revealed that our apparatus provided a spinal cord injury animal model with structural changes very similar to that present in patients after moderate spinal cord trauma.

Keywords

spinal cord injury - animal model - trauma - syringomyelia
 

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