Pablo C Zambrano-Rodríguez1,2, Sirio Bolaños-Puchet3, Horacio J Reyes-Alva1, Roberto A de Los Santos3, Angelina Martinez-Cruz4, Gabriel Guízar-Sahagún4,5, Luis A Medina3,6. 1. Department of Neurology, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Mexico. 2. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador. 3. Unidad de Investigación Biomédica en Cáncer INCan/UNAM, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico. 4. Department of Experimental Surgery, Proyecto Camina A.C., Mexico City, Mexico. 5. Research Unit for Neurological Diseases, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City, Mexico. 6. Instituto de Física, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The spinal subarachnoid space (SSAS) is vital for neurologic function. Although SSAS alterations are known to occur after spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a lack of high-resolution imaging studies of the SSAS after SCI in rodents. Therefore, the aim here was to assess changes in the SSAS of rats subjected to graded SCI, using high-resolution micro-CT myelography. METHODS: Long-Evans adult rats were subjected to mild or severe spinal cord contusion at T9. Imaging studies of SSAS features were carried out in injured rats at acute (day 1) and subacute (day 15) stages postinjury, as well as in control rats, using high-resolution micro-CT myelography with a contrast-enhanced digital subtraction protocol. We studied a total of 33 rats randomly allocated into five experimental groups. Micro-CT myelograms were assessed by expert observers using both qualitative and quantitative criteria. RESULTS: Qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that SCI induces changes in the SSAS that vary as a function of both injury severity and time elapsed after injury. SSAS blockage was the main alteration detected. Moreover, the method used here allowed fine details to be observed in small animals, such as variations in the preferential pathways for contrast medium flow, neuroimaging nerve root enhancement, and leakage of contrast medium due to tearing of the dural sac. CONCLUSION: Micro-CT myelography provides high-resolution images of changes in the SSAS after SCI in rats and is a useful tool for further experimental studies involving rat SCI in vivo.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The spinal subarachnoid space (SSAS) is vital for neurologic function. Although SSAS alterations are known to occur after spinal cord injury (SCI), there is a lack of high-resolution imaging studies of the SSAS after SCI in rodents. Therefore, the aim here was to assess changes in the SSAS of rats subjected to graded SCI, using high-resolution micro-CT myelography. METHODS: Long-Evans adult rats were subjected to mild or severe spinal cord contusion at T9. Imaging studies of SSAS features were carried out in injured rats at acute (day 1) and subacute (day 15) stages postinjury, as well as in control rats, using high-resolution micro-CT myelography with a contrast-enhanced digital subtraction protocol. We studied a total of 33 rats randomly allocated into five experimental groups. Micro-CT myelograms were assessed by expert observers using both qualitative and quantitative criteria. RESULTS: Qualitative and quantitative analyses showed that SCI induces changes in the SSAS that vary as a function of both injury severity and time elapsed after injury. SSAS blockage was the main alteration detected. Moreover, the method used here allowed fine details to be observed in small animals, such as variations in the preferential pathways for contrast medium flow, neuroimaging nerve root enhancement, and leakage of contrast medium due to tearing of the dural sac. CONCLUSION: Micro-CT myelography provides high-resolution images of changes in the SSAS after SCI in rats and is a useful tool for further experimental studies involving rat SCI in vivo.
Authors: Olivia C Eller; Rena N Stair; Christopher Neal; Peter S N Rowe; Jennifer Nelson-Brantley; Erin E Young; Kyle M Baumbauer Journal: Neurobiol Pain Date: 2022-06-17