Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
SpringerLink
Log in

Contusion Models of Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

  • Protocol
  • First Online:
Animal Models of Movement Disorders

Part of the book series: Neuromethods ((NM,volume 62))

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition affecting approximately 262,000 Americans with 12,000 new cases each year. In addition to the obvious motor and sensory deficits, SCI decreases life expectancy, independence and overall quality of life while increasing patient health care costs dramatically. Much has already been elucidated about SCI mechanisms and injury progression using rodent models of thoracic SCI; however, no pharmacological interventions have proven to be overwhelmingly effective in the human SCI population. Given the dire outcomes following SCI, discovery of novel pharmacological interventions for the treatment of SCI remains a top priority. The characterization and use of highly clinically relevant models of SCI are therefore of utmost importance in the quest to find pharmacological interventions as well as to further our understanding of SCI mechanisms and injury progression. The method outlined here describes a rat cervical hemicontusion SCI model which closely resembles the etiology and progression of human SCI. Application of more clinically relevant models of SCI, including this cervical hemicontusion model, will allow the field to move forward toward novel drug discovery and treatment of human SCI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Protocol
USD 49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (2010) Spinal Cord Injury Facts and Figures at a Glance. www.nscisc.uab.edu. Accessed 6 May 2010

  2. Norenberg MD, Smith J, Marcillo A (2004) The pathology of human spinal cord injury: Defining the problems. J Neurotrauma 21:429–440

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Bunge RP, Puckett WR, Becerra JL et al (1993) Observations on the pathology of human spinal cord injury. A review and classification of 22 new cases with details from a case of chronic cord compression with extensive focal demyelination. In: FJ Seil (ed) Advances in Neurology. Raven Press, Ltd., New York

    Google Scholar 

  4. Grill RJ (2005) User-defined variables that affect outcome in spinal cord contusion/compression models. Exp Neurol 196:1–5

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Rosenzweig ES, McDonald JW (2004) Rodent models for treatment of spinal cord injury: research trends and progress toward repair. Curr Opin Neurol 17:121–131

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Stokes BT, Jakeman LB (2002) Experimental modelling of human spinal cord injury: a model that crosses the species barrier and mimics the spectrum of human cytopathology. Spinal Cord 40:101–109

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Rivlin AS, Tator CH (1978) Effect of duration of acute spinal cord compression in a new acute cord injury model in the rat. Surg Neurol 10:38–43

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vanicky I, Urdzikova L, Saganova K et al (2001) A Simple and Reproducible Model of Spinal Cord Injury Induced by Epidural Balloon Inflation in the Rat. J Neurotrauma 18:1399–1407

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Martin D, Schoenen J, Delree P et al (1992) Experimental acute traumatic injury of the adult rat spinal cord by a subdural inflatable balloon: methodology, behavioral analysis, and histopathology. J Neurosci Res 32:539–550

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Young W (2002) Spinal cord contusion models. In: L McKerracher, G Doucet, S Rossignol (eds) Progress in Brain Research. Elsevier Science B.V.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Allen AR (1911) Surgery of experimental lesion of spinal cord equivalent to crush injury of fracture dislocation of spinal column. A preliminary report. JAMA 57:878–880

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Guth L, Richardson KC, Baker CA et al (1977) Neurohistological and enzyme histochemical staining of adjacent sections in series cut from normal and traumatized spinal cords. Exp Neurol 57:179–191

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ducker TB, Assenmacher DR (1969) Microvascular response to experimental spinal cord trauma. Surg Forum 20:428–430

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Wullenweber R, Ebhardt G, Collmann H, Duisberg R (1978) Spinal cord blood flow after experimental trauma in the dog. I. Morphological findings after standardized trauma. Adv Neurol 20:407–414

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Daniell HB, Francis WW, Lee WA et al (1975) A method of quantitating injury inflicted in acute spinal cord studies. Paraplegia 13:137–142

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Parker AJ, Smith CW (1976) Functional recovery from spinal cord trauma following dexamethasone and chlorpromazine therapy in dogs. Res Vet Sci 21:246–247

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Goodkin R, Campbell JB (1969) Sequential pathological changes in spinal cord injury: a preliminary report. Surg Forum 20:430–432

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Rowland JW, Hawryluk GWJ, Kwon B et al (2008) Current status of acute spinal cord injury pathophysiology and emerging therapies: promise of the horizon. Neurosurg Focus 25:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Wrathall JR, Pettegrew RK, Harvey F (1985) Spinal cord contusion in the rat: production of graded, reproducible injury groups. Exp Neurol 88:108–122

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Noble LJ, Wrathall JR (1987) An inexpensive apparatus for producing graded spinal cord contusive injury in the rat. Exp Neurol 95:530–533

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Behrmann DL, Bresnahan JC, Beattie MS (1994) Modeling of acute spinal cord injury in the rat: neuroprotection and enhanced recovery with methylprednisolone, U-74006F and YM-14673. Exp Neurol 126:61–75

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Panjabi MM, White AA (1980) Basic biomechanics of the spine. Neurosurgery 7:76–93

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Blight AR, Decrescito V (1986) Morphometric analysis of experimental spinal cord injury in the cat: the relation of injury intensity to survival of unmyelinated axons. Neuroscience 19:321–341

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Stokes BT, Noyes DH, Behrmann DL (1992) An electromechanical spinal injury technique with dynamic sensitivity. J Neurotrauma 9:187–195

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Kwo S, Young W, Decrescito V (1989) Spinal cord sodium, potassium, calcium and water concentration changes in rats after graded contusion injury. J Neurotrauma 6:13–24

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Gruner JA (1992) A monitored contusion model of spinal cord injury in the rat. J Neurotrauma 9:123–126

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Koozekanani SH, Vise WM, Hashemi RM et al (1976) Possible mechanisms for observed pathophysiological variability in experimental spinal cord injury by the method of Allen. J Neurosurg 44:429–434

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Ford RW (1983) A reproducible spinal cord injury model in the cat. J Neurosurg 59:268–275

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Scheff SW, Rabchevsky AG, Fugaccia I et al (2003) Experimental modeling of spinal cord injury: Characterization of a force-defined injury device. J Neurotrauma 20:179–193

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Dunham KD, Siriphorn A, Chompoopong S et al (2010) Characterization of a graded cervical hemicontusion spinal cord injury model in adult male rats. J Neurotrauma 27:2091–2106

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Pearse DD, Lo Jr TP, Cho KS et al (2005) Histopathological and behavioral characterization of a novel cervical spinal cord displacement contusion injury in the rat. J Neurotrauma 22:680–702

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gensel JC, Tovar CA, Hamers FPT et al (2006) Behavioral and histological characterization of unilateral cervical spinal cord contusion injury in rats. J Neurotrauma 23:36–54

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. McKenna JE, Prusky GT, Whishaw IQ (2000) Cervical motoneuron topography reflects the proximodistal organization of muscles and movements of the rat forelimb: A retrograde carbocyanine dye analysis. J Comp Neurol 419:286–296

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Soblosky JS, Song JH, Dinh DH (2001) Graded unilateral cervical spinal cord injury in the rat: evaluation of forelimb recovery and histological effects. Behav Brain Res 119:1–13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Anderson KD, Sharp KG, Hofstadter M et al (2009) Forelimb Locomotor Assessment Scale (FLAS): Novel Assessment of Forelimb Dysfunction After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury. Exp Neurol 220:23–33

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Choi H, Liao WL, Newton KM et al (2005) Respiratory abnormalities resulting from midcervical spinal cord injury and their reversal by serotonin 1A agonists in conscious rats. J Neuroscience 25:4550–4559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Rumana CS, Baskin DS (1996) Brown-sequard syndrome caused by cervical disc herniation: case report and literature review. Surg Neurol 45:359–361

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Popesko P, Rajtova V, Horak J (1992) Anatomy of small laboratory animals. Elsevier, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Kelly A. Dunham & Candace L. Floyd

Authors
  1. Kelly A. Dunham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Candace L. Floyd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Candace L. Floyd .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Welsh School of Pharmacology, Cardiff University, Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3NB, United Kingdom

    Emma L. Lane

  2. School of Biosciences, Brain Repair Group, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom

    Stephen B. Dunnett

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Dunham, K.A., Floyd, C.L. (2011). Contusion Models of Spinal Cord Injury in Rats. In: Lane, E., Dunnett, S. (eds) Animal Models of Movement Disorders. Neuromethods, vol 62. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-301-1_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-61779-301-1_18

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61779-300-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-61779-301-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation