Spontaneous Synaptic Activity in Projection Neurons of Lamina I of the Isolated Rat Lumbar Spinal Cord: Effect of Peripheral Inflammation

Background Although upregulation of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in spinal cord after peripheral inflammation has been well documented, the effect of surgery on spinal COX-2 has not been examined in detail. The present study uses a bilateral foot incision in rats to examine the magnitude and duration of surgically induced changes in spinal COX-2 protein. Methods A longitudinal incision was made in both plantar hind paws of isoflurane-anesthetized rats. Spinal cords were removed at various postoperative times (1-48 h), and spinal COX-2 protein levels were compared with the results of Western blot analysis. Ropivacaine-induced blockade of sciatic nerve function was used to determine the importance of afferent nerve activity on spinal COX-2 after incision. Dexamethasone and the COX-2-selective inhibitor L-745,337 were administered intrathecally to modulate spinal COX-2 after incision. Results COX-2 protein levels increased in the lumbar spinal cord at 3 (1.32-fold) and 6 (1.26-fold) h after bilateral foot incision. At later times, lumbar COX-2 levels were no different than in control animals not undergoing surgery. Cervical COX-2 protein levels remained unchanged. Sciatic nerve blockade with ropivacaine did not prevent the increase in lumbar spinal COX-2 protein levels after incision. Intrathecal dexamethasone decreased lumbar spinal COX-2 levels after incision, and an intrathecal COX-2-selective inhibitor did not reduce the COX-2 upregulation. Conclusions After bilateral foot incision in rats, lumbar spinal COX-2 protein levels increase, although the magnitude and duration are less than reported in models of peripheral inflammation. This COX-2 upregulation does not seem to be mediated by afferent nerve activity.

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Lipomeningocele associated with diplomyelia in a dog

Tierärztliche Praxis Ausgabe K Kleintiere / Heimtiere ◽

10.15654/tpk-170751 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 46 (05) ◽

pp. 323-329 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Nele Ondreka ◽

Sara Malberg ◽

Emma Laws ◽

Martin Schmidt ◽

Sabine Schulze

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Neurological Status ◽

Split Cord Malformation ◽

Lumbar Spinal Cord ◽

Histopathological Diagnosis ◽

Type I ◽

Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽

Thoracic Spinal ◽

Subcutaneous Mass ◽

Lumbar Spinal

SummaryA 2-year-old male neutered mixed breed dog with a body weight of 30 kg was presented for evaluation of a soft subcutaneous mass on the dorsal midline at the level of the caudal thoracic spine. A further clinical sign was intermittent pain on palpation of the area of the subcutaneous mass. The owner also described a prolonged phase of urination with repeated interruption and re-initiation of voiding. The findings of the neurological examination were consistent with a lesion localization between the 3rd thoracic and 3rd lumbar spinal cord segments. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a spina bifida with a lipomeningocele and diplomyelia (split cord malformation type I) at the level of thoracic vertebra 11 and 12 and secondary syringomyelia above the aforementioned defects in the caudal thoracic spinal cord. Surgical resection of the lipomeningocele via a hemilaminectomy was performed. After initial deterioration of the neurological status postsurgery with paraplegia and absent deep pain sensation the dog improved within 2 weeks to non-ambulatory paraparesis with voluntary urination. Six weeks postoperatively the dog was ambulatory, according to the owner. Two years after surgery the owner recorded that the dog showed a normal gait, a normal urination and no pain. Histopathological diagnosis of the biopsied material revealed a lipomeningocele which confirmed the radiological diagnosis.

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