An inexpensive apparatus for producing graded spinal cord contusive injury in the rat.

We recently described an experimental model of spinal cord contusive injury in the rat in which a modified weight-drop apparatus is used to generate reproducible mild, moderate, or severe final functional deficit. We now report several inexpensive alternatives for portions of the original apparatus which allow the production of contusive injuries without the necessity of an expensive commercial stereotaxic frame or custom-machined clamp holders.