Neuroprotective Effects of Sacral Epidural Neuromodulation Following Spinal Cord Injury : an Experimental Study in Rats

Overview

Journal J Korean Neurosurg Soc

Date 2013 Jan 25

PMID 23346320

Citations 1

Authors

Chang-Hyun Lee

Seung-Jae Hyun

Cheol-Yong Yoon

Jae-Young Lim

Tae-Ahn Jahng

Ki-Jeong Kim

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate neuroprotective effect of sacral neuromodulation in rat spinal cord injury (SCI) model in the histological and functional aspects.

Methods: Twenty-one female Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups : the normal control group (CTL, n=7), the SCI with sham stimulation group (SCI, n=7), and the SCI with electrical stimulation (SCI+ES, n=7). Spinal cord was injured by dropping an impactor from 25 mm height. Sacral nerve electrical stimulation was performed by the following protocol : pulse duration, 0.1 ms; frequency, 20 Hz; stimulation time, 30 minutes; and stimulation duration, 4 weeks. Both locomotor function and histological examination were evaluated as scheduled.

Results: The number of anterior horn cell was 12.3±5.7 cells/high power field (HPF) in the CTL group, 7.8±4.9 cells/HPF in the SCI group, and 6.9±5.5 cells/HPF in the SCI+ES group, respectively. Both the SCI and the SCI+ES groups showed severe loss of anterior horn cells and myelin fibers compared with the CTL group. Cavitation and demyelinization of the nerve fibers has no significant difference between the SCI group and the SCI+ES group. Cavitation of dorsal column was more evident in only two rats of SCI group than the SCI+ES group. The locomotor function of all rats improved over time but there was no significant difference at any point in time between the SCI and the SCI+ES group.

Conclusion: In a rat thoracic spinal cord contusion model, we observed that sacral neuromodulation did not prevent SCI-induced myelin loss and apoptosis.

Citing Articles

Microglia activation as a biomarker for traumatic brain injury.

Hernandez-Ontiveros D, Tajiri N, Acosta S, Giunta B, Tan J, Borlongan C Front Neurol. 2013; 4:30.

PMID: 23531681 PMC: 3607801. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2013.00030.

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