Analysis of death cause in rats with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective To investigate the causes for death in rats after spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 120 adult Wister rats were selected for the study. The animal model with acute spinal injury at T10 was established by using Allen＇s combat （25 g · cm）. The dissection analysis was performed in death rats. Results Of all, 25 patients died, with mortality rate of 21%. Of death rats, five rats were died before awakening, with no abnormal anatomy; 12 rats died within three days after injury and three died of injuries 3-7days injury. Anatomy found pulmonary bleeding and edema, even hemato- cele bladder in some rats. There were three rats died within 1-2 weeks, one died of injury only after 2-3 weeks, with lung infection and urinary tract infection. There was no death after three weeks. Conclusions The early causes for death of rats with spinal cord injury is mainly due to lung congestion and pulmonary edema, whereas the leading cause of late death of rats is pulmonary and urinary tract infection. Key words: Spinal cord injuries ; Cause of death ; Rats