Neurobehavior and pathological changes of spinal cord injury model rats by an electrocircuit controlled injurying device

Abstract

Objective To observe neurobehavior and pathological changes of spinal cord injury (SCI) model in adult rats. Methods The Basso Beattie Bresnahan(BBB)scoring, histological and immunohistochemical changes after SCI were observed by means of self-designed spinal cord injurying device controlled by electrocircuit. Results From the 3rd day(1.0±0.7), the BBB score of injured group began to increase(increased to 4.2±1.3 significantly at 7th day, and at the 28th day was 7.2±1.3), and the hind limb could not support the body weight. Degeneration, necrosis of lots of neurons and glial cells proliferation could be observed obviously in spinal cord injured group. Immunohistochemical experiments showed that the grey level began to decrease 2nd hour after injury, went down the minimum at the 1st day, then 3rd day recovered, and at 28 th day was still lower than that of sham group.The glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP) immunostaining positive cells area was gradually increased from 3rd day, reached the apex in the 14 th day, then decreased in the 28 th day.The changes of neuron specific enolase(NSE), neurofilament protein 200(NF200) and GFAP had a close relationship with BBB score (r=0.856, 0.856, 0.795 respectively, P<0.01). Conclusion The changes of NSE, NF200, GFAP after spinal cord injury reflect the characteristic of pathological change, which have a close relationship with functional recovery. Key words: Spinal cord injury; Neurobehavior; Pathophysiology