电针对大鼠脊髓损伤后c—fos mRNA表达的影响

本实验通过检测电针对大鼠脊髓损伤后c-fosmRNA表达的影响,探讨电针对脊髓损伤后细胞保护作用的机制。将27只SD雄性大鼠随机分为3组,电针组（9只）,模型对照组（9只）,假手术组（9只）。所有动物均在麻醉后实施手术。电针组和模型对照组采用改良的Allen’s撞击法造成第10胸髓平面损伤,假手术组仅切除椎板,不损伤脊髓。     

L-NNA对大鼠急性脊髓损伤的影响

实验采用雌性 Wistar大鼠 41只 ,分为正常对照组、生理盐水对照组和 L - NNA治疗组 ,后两组制成不完全性(2 18克厘米力 )急性脊髓 (第 10胸髓 )损伤模型 ,于术后每天一次腹腔注射 L - NNA (2 0 m g/ kg)或等量生理盐水 ,连续四周 ,然后处死动物 ,行脊髓 NOS染色和超微结构观察。结果显示 ,L - NNA治疗组脊髓 NOS阳性神经元染色较生理盐水对照组浅 ,两组光密度比较 P<0 .0 5 ;超微结构观察 ,生理盐水对照组脊髓神经元胞质呈空泡样变 ,线粒体等细胞器变性 ,髓鞘严重变形 ,少数髓鞘呈线团状改变 ,常伴有高电子密度的块状沉积物。但 L - NNA治疗组脊髓神经元及大部分神经纤维的髓鞘结构清晰。因此我们认为 ,大鼠急性脊髓损伤可诱导神经元 NOS表达 ,L - NNA对其损伤修复起促进作用。     

超早期高压氧对脊髓完全横断损伤大鼠血液生化及后肢运动功能的影响

目的探讨超早期高压氧（HBO）治疗对脊髓完全横断损伤模型血液生化及后肢运动功能的影响。方法 55只SD大鼠随机分为A组（假手术组,15只）、B组（模型组,20只）及C组（高压氧组,20只）,A组仅行椎板切除术,其余2组均行T10椎板水平脊髓完全横向切断术。B、C组均予常规护理,C组于术后3 h置于动物舱内开始高压氧治疗,10 d一疗程,共3疗程。分别于建立模型后第1～6周末,用BBB运动功能评分法评价并比较两组大鼠后肢运动功能恢复程度,术后第6周过量麻醉处死大鼠,以40 g/L多聚甲醛行心室-主动脉灌注,取脊髓损伤区标本,光镜观察损伤脊髓的组织病理学改变。检测血钙（Ca）、血磷（P）、血清碱性磷酸酶（ALP）改变情况。结果 B、C两组大鼠术后第1～6周BBB运动功能评分逐渐增高,C组在3～6周末的BBB运动功能评分均明显高于B组。B组、C组血钙、血磷在术后1、3周高于A组,血清碱性磷酸酶（ALP）术后1、3周低于A组;C组血钙、血磷在术后5、6周低于B组。病理组织切片观察C组较B组组织水肿减轻,炎性细胞浸润减轻。结论超早期高压氧治疗能促进脊髓完全横断损伤大鼠后肢运动功能的部分恢复,降低血钙、血磷含量,对脊髓完全横断损伤大鼠具有保护和治疗作用。     

改良半椎板切除法建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型

目的探讨改良半椎板切除法建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型的优势和特点。方法选用SD大鼠40只,随机分为实验组和对照组,实验组采用改良半椎板切除法建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型,对照组则采用全椎板切除法,通过观察两组建模手术时间、术中出血量、伤口愈合情况、死亡率、大鼠下肢神经功能、神经根组织病理改变及TNF-α及IL-1在细胞质中灰度值表达水平评估两种方法的效果。结果实验组在建模手术时间、术中出血量、伤口愈合状况、死亡率明显少于对照组(P0.01),而大鼠下肢神经功能、神经根组织病理改变及TNF-α及IL-1在细胞质中灰度值表达水平无明显差异,同时,实验组所需的切口小,脊柱后方软组织破坏少。结论采用改良半椎板切除法可保证成功建立大鼠腰神经根压迫模型,并且这一改良方法具有手术时间短,伤口愈合快,出血量少,软组织破坏少,死亡率低等优点,这一改良方法更注重动物伦理。     

小鼠脊髓损伤模型的建立及其评价

通过对模型的制备模拟脊髓损伤,研究其病理和影像的变化及脊髓组织的病理分析,为后期的唔疗提供了实验信息。使用7～8周龄小鼠,咬除T9～T10棘突及相应椎板,用重物压迫脊髓,缝合皮肤,制成脊髓损伤模型。分不同的时间进行行为学评分及病理和影像学的检测。结果显示对照组在不同时间行为学评分较高,而实验组评分较低。脊髓损伤区出现明显的病理改变和影像学的改变。可见在实验组中小鼠脊髓损伤区无脊髓组织残留,且出现明显的组织和影像改变,在行为学上两组相比具有显著差异,适用于脊髓再生的研究,从而为进一步研究脊髓损伤提供了较为可靠的模型。     

小鼠脊髓损伤半切模型的建立及评价

目的建立一种稳定可靠、重复性强的脊髓损伤半切动物模型,模拟人类脊髓半切伤,为后期脊髓损伤的治疗研究提供可靠的动物模型。方法 60只健康昆明小鼠随机分为手术组和假手术组。实验小鼠麻醉后俯卧位固定,以T10胸椎棘突为中心,暴露T9~11棘突和椎板;在体式显微镜下,咬除T10棘突及椎板,暴露该阶段脊髓;用虹膜剪尖端将脊髓半切至脊髓后正中静脉右缘。于造模后1d、3d、5d、1w、2w、3w,采用双盲BMS评分法,评价各组小鼠后肢运动功能。并取损伤局部脊髓组织进行结晶紫染色、Caspase3免疫组织化学染色及超微结构检测,以观察脊髓损伤后的组织学变化。结果手术组实验动物均表现出损伤侧后肢瘫痪,BMS评分低于7分;脊髓损伤局部形态学观察显示该方法能很好地实现脊髓半横切。结论小鼠T10脊髓损伤半切模型建立成功,死亡率低,可重复性强。     

半椎板切除全椎管减压治疗退行性腰椎管狭窄症的效果观察

目的：探讨半椎板切除全椎管减压治疗退行性腰椎管狭窄症的手术效果。方法：2005年7月．2009年6月手术治疗退行性腰椎管狭窄症的患者162例,均行半椎板切除全椎管减压结合椎弓根内固定及后外侧植骨融合术。结果：随访6～24个月,平均10．5个月,术后JOA评分由术前的（15．26±5．26）分提高到术后的（21．38±5．16）分（配对t检验P〈0．05）。结论：行半椎板切除全椎管减压结合椎弓根内固定及后外侧植骨融合手术治疗腰椎管狭窄症既可以起到椎管彻底减压的目的,又可以尽可能保留脊柱后柱结构的稳定性及完整性。     

Neuritin对大鼠急性脊髓损伤后神经中丝作用的研究

目的:探讨Neuritin对大鼠脊髓损伤后神经元突起再生的作用.方法:分为Neuritin组,His组和假手术组.使用改良Allen's打击法打击Neuritin组和His组大鼠T10或T11节段脊髓.Neuritin组和His组经蛛网膜下腔置管局部连续给予Neuritin和His蛋白(6ug/d)一周.假手术组仅咬除椎板不损伤脊髓,经蛛网膜下腔置空管而部损伤脊髓.术后6h、3d、7d、14d、28d、56d分别观察:①运动功能评分(BBB评分)观察大鼠后肢运动功能恢复情况;②HE染色观察脊髓组织形态学变化;③免疫组织化学染色和Western blotting检测损伤段脊髓神经中丝蛋白(NF200)的修复与再生.结果:①BBB评分,Neuritin组和His组在一周内没有明显差别,但Neuritin组和His组的评分均低于假手术组,从术后第14d,实验组评分明显高于对照组(P＜0.05);②HE染色可见损伤段脊髓出血、坏死及炎性细胞浸润;③免疫组化检测,Neuritin组的NF200平均光密度值(IOD/AREA)较His组明显增高(P＜0.05);Western blotting检测的NF200灰度值(GMD)较His组明显增高(P＜0.05),结论:持续外源性Neuritin能促进大鼠脊髓损伤后伤区神经元突起的再生,并能促进大鼠后肢运动功能的康复.     

应用cDNA微阵列技术筛选大鼠脊髓损伤修复相关基因

脊髓损伤是一类常见的、高致残率的中枢神经系统疾病,由于多种复杂因素影响其损伤后的修复过程,损伤脊髓的再生能力非常有限。本研究采用cDNA微阵列技术筛选大鼠脊髓损伤后出现的差异表达基因。实验组动物在T8-T9进行脊髓全横断手术,对照组动物只打开椎板;4．5d后取脊髓进行RNA提取并在反转录过程中进行Cy3／Cy5标记,然后与预制的、带有4041条特异性探针的芯片进行杂交。Cy5／Cy3信号比值≥2．0视为脊髓损伤后出现差异表达的基因。通过筛选,我们得到了65个上调表达基因（21个已知基因,30个已知EST和14个未知基因）和79个下调基因（20个已知基因,42个已知EST和17个未知基因）。进一步通过半定量RT-PCR对其中的5个上调已知基因（Timpl,Tagln,Vim,Fc gamma receptor,Ctss）和三个下调已知基因（stearyl-CoA desaturase,F2,Ensa）的表达情况进行了验证,结果显示与芯片结果一致。这些基因可能在脊髓损伤后的修复过程中起一定的作用,对其深入研究将有助于揭示脊髓损伤修复的分子机制。     

自组装短肽在脊髓急性创伤早期减少细胞凋亡的研究

目的 为研究在脊髓急性损伤中,自组装短肽溶液对创伤后神经组织的保护作用及创伤后早期神经组织细胞凋亡的时间分布规律.方法 实验使用了手术切断大鼠脊髓胸段T8至T10作为脊髓损伤动物模型,使用末端脱氧核苷酸转移酶介导生物素标记(TUNEL)技术,检测实验后不同时间点的损伤脊髓组织细胞凋亡情况.结果 伤后2 h,损伤区及邻近段开始出现末端标记阳性细胞;伤后8 h,凋亡阳性细胞数达高峰;同时,自组装短肽实验组细胞凋亡较空白对照组少.结论 自组装短肽溶液对急性脊髓创伤组织具有保护作用.     

Neuroprotective Effects of Ebselen on Experimental Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in rapid and significant oxidative stress. This study was aimed to investigate the possible beneficial effects of Ebselen in comparison with Methylprednisolone in experimental SCI. Thirty six Wistar albino rats (200–250 g) were divided in to six groups; A (control), B (only laminectomy), C (Trauma; laminectomy + spinal trauma), D (Placebo group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + serum physiologic), E (Methylprednisolone group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + Methylprednisolone treated), F (Ebselen group; laminectomy + spinal trauma + Ebselen treated), containing 6 rats each. Spinal cord injury (SCI) was performed by placement of an aneurysm clip, extradurally at the level of T11–12. After this application, group A, B and C were not treated with any drug. Group D received 1 ml serum physiologic. Group E received 30 mg/kg Methylprednisolone and, Group F received 10 mg/kg Ebselen intraperitoneally (i.p.). Rats were neurologically examined 24 h after trauma and spinal cord tissue samples had been harvested for both biochemical and histopathological evaluation. All rats were paraplegic after SCI except the ones in group A and B. Neurological scores were not different in traumatized rats than that of non-traumatized ones. SCI significantly increased spinal cord tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels and also decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) enzyme activities compared to control. Methylprednisolone and Ebselen treatment decreased tissue MDA and PC levels and prevented inhibition of the enzymes SOD, GSH-Px and CAT in the tissues. However, the best results were obtained with Ebselen. In groups C and D, the neurons of the spinal cord tissue became extensively dark and degenerated with picnotic nuclei. The morphology of neurons in groups E and F were very well protected, but not as good as the control group. The number of neurons in the spinal cord tissues of the groups C and D were significantly less than the groups A, B, E and F. We concluded that the use of Ebselen treatment might have potential benefits in spinal cord tissue damage on clinical grounds.     

Upregulation of Inflammatory Mediators in a Model of Chronic Pain after Spinal Cord Injury

Chronic neuropathic pain is a disabling condition observed in large number of individuals following spinal cord injury (SCI). Recent progress points to an important role of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of central neuropathic pain. The focus of the present study is to investigate the role of proinflammatory molecules IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in chronic neuropathic pain in a rodent model of SCI. Rats were subjected to spinal cord contusion using a controlled linear motor device with an injury epicenter at T10. The SCI rats had severe impairment in locomotor function at 7 days post-injury as assessed by the BBB score. The locomotor scores showed significant improvement starting at day 14 and thereafter showed no further improvement. The Hargreaves’ test was used to assess thermal hyperalgesia for hindpaw, forepaw and tail. A significant reduction in withdrawal latency was observed for forepaw and tail of SCI rats at days 21 and 28, indicating the appearance of thermal hyperalgesia. Changes in expression of mRNAs for IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction in spinal cord including the injury epicenter along with regions above and below the level of lesion at day 28 post-injury. A significant increase was observed in the expression of MCP-1, TNF-α, TIMP-1 and IL-1β in the injury epicenter, whereas only TIMP-1 was upregulated in the area below the injury epicenter. The results of the study suggest that prolonged upregulation of inflammatory mediators might be involved in chronic neuropathic pain in SCI, and that TIMP-1 may play a role in maintenance of chronic below level pain.     

Long-Term Changes in Spinal Cord Evoked Potentials After Compression Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat

SUMMARY 1. After traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI), histological and neurological consequences are developing for several days and even weeks. However, little is known about the dynamics of changes in spinal axonal conductivity. The aim of this study was to record and compare repeated spinal cord evoked potentials (SCEP) after SCI in the rat during a 4 weeks’ interval. These recordings were used: (i) for studying the dynamics of functional changes in spinal axons after SCI, and (ii) to define the value of SCEP as an independent outcome parameter in SCI studies.2. We have used two pairs of chronically implanted epidural electrodes for stimulation/recording. The electrodes were placed below and above the site of injury, respectively. Animals with implanted electrodes underwent spinal cord compression injury induced by epidural balloon inflation at Th8–Th9 level. There were five experimental groups of animals, including one control group (sham-operated, no injury), and four injury groups (different degrees of SCI).3. After SCI, SCEP waveform was either significantly reduced or completely lost. Partial recovery of SCEPs was observed in all groups. The onset and extent of recovery clearly correlated with the severity of injury.There was good correlation between quantitated SCEP variables and the volumes of the compressing balloon. However, sensitivity of electropohysiological parameters was inferior compared to neurological and morphometric outcomes.4. Our study shows for the first time, that the dynamics of axonal recovery depends on the degree of injury. After mild injury, recovery of signal is rapid. However, after severe injury, axonal conductivity can re-appear after as long as 2 weeks postinjury.In conclusion, SCEPs can be used as an independent parameter of outcome after SCI, but in general, the sensitivity of electrophysiological data were worse than standard morphological and neurological evaluations.     

Decreased cutaneous sensory axon-reflex vasodilatation below the lesion in patients with complete spinal cord injury

The histamine-induced skin flare response has been considered of practical value in determining the level of a spinal cord lesion, but clinical observations have varied widely with regard to the nature and degree of change below the lesion. We have quantified cutaneous sensory axon-reflex vasodilatation in patients with complete spinal cord injury (SCI) above and below the lesion, and compared the findings with normal subjects. Axon-reflex vasodilatation was induced by intradermal histamine injection, and measured by (a) laser Doppler fluxmetry and (b) tracing the surface area of the flare. Axon-reflex vasodilatation was present in all SCI patients above and below the lesion, but was significantly diminished below the lesion by both measures (pflux rise = 0.0008; pflare = 0.023), and in comparison with controls (by 39%). The flux increase was significantly correlated with the area of flare (r = 0.82; p = 0.02). Axon-reflex vasodilatation and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain scores on histamine injection were not significantly different above the lesion in SCI patients from controls. Baseline laser Doppler flux was not different at any test site in SCI and normal subjects. The cutaneous sensory axon-reflex is thus significantly diminished in SCI patients below the level of the lesion, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. A possible explanation under investigation is that increased basal or reflex sympathetic vasoconstriction mediated via the isolated spinal cord may counteract the vasodilatation produced by the cutaneous sensory terminals.     

Peripheral changes above and below injury level lead to prolonged vascular responses following high spinal cord injury

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a debilitating disorder producing episodes of extreme hypertension in patients with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI). Factors leading to AD include loss of vasomotor baroreflex control to regions below injury level, changes in spinal circuitry, and peripheral changes. The present study tested for peripheral changes below and above injury level 6 wk after a transection at the fourth thoracic spinal level. Changes in vascular conductance were recorded in the femoral, renal, brachial, and carotid arteries in response to intravenous injections of two alpha-adrenergic agonists, phenylephrine (PE; 0.03-100 microg/kg) and methoxamine (Meth; 1-300 microg/kg). Unlike PE, Meth is not subject to neuronal reuptake. Ganglionic blockade (0.6 mg/kg chlorisondamine) was used to eliminate the central component of the cardiovascular response. After ganglionic blockade, SCI animals exhibited prolonged vasoconstriction in response to PE in all blood vessels measured compared with those in intact animals (all, P < 0.035). However, the PE dose-response curves obtained after ganglionic blockade revealed no significant difference in the potency between the two groups (all, P > 0.06), indicating that the prolonged vasoconstriction was not due to supersensitivity to PE. In contrast to PE, vascular responses to Meth did not vary between intact and SCI groups (all P > 0.108). These results show the development of a widespread peripheral change producing prolonged vasoconstriction in response to PE, but not Meth, possibly due to reduced neuronal reuptake of PE after SCI. This is the first study to report such a change in blood vessels not only below but also above injury level. Interventions to correct this reduced reuptake may help limit the development of AD.     

Aberrant Crossed Corticospinal Facilitation in Muscles Distant from a Spinal Cord Injury

Crossed facilitatory interactions in the corticospinal pathway are impaired in humans with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). The extent to which crossed facilitation is affected in muscles above and below the injury remains unknown. To address this question we tested 51 patients with neurological injuries between C2-T12 and 17 age-matched healthy controls. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation we elicited motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the resting first dorsal interosseous, biceps brachii, and tibialis anterior muscles when the contralateral side remained at rest or performed 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) into index finger abduction, elbow flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion, respectively. By testing MEPs in muscles with motoneurons located at different spinal cord segments we were able to relate the neurological level of injury to be above, at, or below the location of the motoneurons of the muscle tested. We demonstrate that in patients the size of MEPs was increased to a similar extent as in controls in muscles above the injury during 70% of MVC compared to rest. MEPs remained unchanged in muscles at and within 5 segments below the injury during 70% of MVC compared to rest. However, in muscles beyond 5 segments below the injury the size of MEPs increased similar to controls and was aberrantly high, 2-fold above controls, in muscles distant (>15 segments) from the injury. These aberrantly large MEPs were accompanied by larger F-wave amplitudes compared to controls. Thus, our findings support the view that corticospinal degeneration does not spread rostral to the lesion, and highlights the potential of caudal regions distant from an injury to facilitate residual corticospinal output after SCI.     

Early administration of methylprednisolone decreases apoptotic cell death after spinal cord injury

The purpose of this study is to evaluate, in an experimental model of spinal cord injury (SCI), the presence of apoptotic cell death after trauma and if early administration of a single bolus of methylprednisolone (MP) influences apoptosis in the zone of trauma and in adjacent spinal cord segments. For this study, a total of 96 adult female Wistar rats were subjected to spinal contusion at the T6-T8 level, producing immediate paraplegia. Forty-eight animals (treated group) received a single intraperitoneal injection of MP, at a dose of 30 mg/kg body weight, 10 minutes later. Cells undergoing apoptosis were detected by means of immunohistochemical labeling with the monoclonal antibody Apostain (anti-ssDNA MAb F7-26), in the injured spinal cord tissue, both in the zone of the lesion and in the adjacent spinal segments (rostral and caudal zones), 1, 4, 8, 24 and 72 hours and 1 week after injury. Apoptosis was detected in neurons and glial cells in the zone of the lesion 1 hour after trauma, with a pattern that showed no changes 4 hours later. Between 4 and 8 hours postinjury, the number of apoptotic cells increased, after which it decreased over the following days. In the adjacent spinal segments, apoptotic cells were detected 4 hours after trauma, and increased progressively over the remainder of the study, the number of apoptotic cells being similar in the lesion zone and in rostral and caudal zones one week after injury. When the group of MP-treated animals was considered, significant decreases in the number of apoptotic cells were detected in the lesion zone 24 hours after injury, and in the rostral and caudal zones, at 72 hours and at 1 week after trauma. These findings show that early administration of a single bolus of MP decreases apoptotic cell death after SCI, supporting the utility of MP in reducing secondary damage in injured spinal cord tissue.     

骨髓间充质干细胞经BDNF基因修饰后移植治疗大鼠半横断脊髓损伤的电生理研究

目的采用电生理的研究方法,观察脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)基因修饰的骨髓间充质干细胞对脊髓损伤的修复作用。方法随机将大鼠分成3组:空白组10只(只切除椎板,暴露脊髓硬脊膜);SCI组10只;SCI术后细胞移植组10只;从以上三组大鼠随机抽取8只于细胞移植后1 d、7 d、14 d、21 d、30 d、60 d进行SEP(皮层体感诱发电位)、MEP(运动诱发电位)等电生理检测技术,并观察大鼠的运动评分恢复程度。结果细胞移植4d后,大鼠饮食和活动开始增加;后肢变化过程如下:损伤后1~4 d损伤侧后肢迟缓性瘫痪,拖地行走,损伤对侧后肢由损伤初期的运动减弱逐渐恢复,损伤后5~9 d损伤侧后肢痉挛性瘫痪;10~14 d损伤侧下肢恢复少量活动,损伤对侧后肢恢复至较损伤前稍弱的状态;15~21 d损伤侧后肢活动能力较之前有明显改善,至30 d损伤侧后肢活动能力及肌张力恢复程度最明显,30 d以后无更明显改善。免疫组化发现损伤处诱导标记的骨髓间充质干细胞存活,行为学观察发现细胞移植改善了损伤大鼠运动能力。结论骨髓间充质干细胞经BDNF基因修饰后可以促进脊髓损伤大鼠的神经再生及部分传导功能恢复。