A New Model of Spinal Cord Edema

Background: The research about anti-edema effects of mannitol on acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats is rare. Objective: This study aimed to explore the effect of mannitol on spinal cord edema after SCI in rats. Methods: Seventy-eight adult female rats were assigned to three groups randomly: a sham control group (n = 18), a contusion and normal saline contrast group (n=30), and a contusion and mannitol treatment group (n=30). We used the open-field test to estimate the functional recovery of rats weekly. Spinal cord water content was measured to determine the spinal cord edema. The ultrastructure features of the injured dorsolateral spinal cord were determined on the 7th day after SCI by HE staining. Results: The mannitol group had greatly improved Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scores when compared with the saline contrast group. The spinal cord water content was increased significantly after SCI, and there was no significant difference in the water content between the NaCl and mannitol groups 1 day after SCI. The water content at 3 and 7 days after SCI was significantly lower in the mannitol group than in the NaCl group (p < 0.05). Mannitol can reduce spinal cord edema by increasing the number of red blood cells in the injured spinal cord and decrease the ratio (dorsoventral diameter/ mediolateral diameter) of spinal cord 7 days post-SCI. Conclusion: Mannitol increases recovery of motor function in rats, reduces spinal cord edema and increases the number of red blood cells in the injured spinal cord, decreasing the ratio of spinal cord to reduce pressure.

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Spinal Cord Edema Preceding Syringomyelia Associated With Chiari I Malformation. Case Report.

Neurologia medico-chirurgica ◽

10.2176/nmc.42.410 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 42 (9) ◽

pp. 410-413 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yasunobu ITOH ◽

Naoyuki KUWAHARA ◽

Toshio SASAJIMA ◽

Kazuo MIZOI ◽

Jun HATAZAWA

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Case Report ◽

Chiari I Malformation ◽

Chiari I ◽

Spinal Cord Edema

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Aquaporins and Their Regulation after Spinal Cord Injury

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells7100174 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. 174 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrea Halsey ◽

Alex Conner ◽

Roslyn Bill ◽

Ann Logan ◽

Zubair Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Membrane Proteins ◽

Water Movement ◽

Ependymal Cells ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Spinal Cord Edema

After injury to the spinal cord, edema contributes to the underlying detrimental pathophysiological outcomes that lead to worsening of function. Several related membrane proteins called aquaporins (AQPs) regulate water movement in fluid transporting tissues including the spinal cord. Within the cord, AQP1, 4 and 9 contribute to spinal cord injury (SCI)-induced edema. AQP1, 4 and 9 are expressed in a variety of cells including astrocytes, neurons, ependymal cells, and endothelial cells. This review discusses some of the recent findings of the involvement of AQP in SCI and highlights the need for further study of these proteins to develop effective therapies to counteract the negative effects of SCI-induced edema.

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