title: Microvascular perfusion experimental spinal cord injury.
abstract: Microperfusion of the spinal cords in cats was studied using a colloidal carbon perfusion technique following compression injury at 1/2 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, and 51 days. Quantitative estimates of vascular filling were determined at these post-compression intervals. Microperfusion diminished in both the gray and white matter at 1/2 hour following injury and severe lack of perfusion was evident at 8 and 24 hours. Diminished filling of the vessels of gray and white matter seemed to parallel the degree of hemorrhagic necrosis of the gray matter. An increased number of vessels were evident in the spinal cords of long term survivals. The observation that microperfusion in the white matter of the spinal cord was diminished at 24 hours is at variance with some previous investigations. The hypoperfusion of the white matter found in this study suggests that ischemia plays a role in paraplegia resulting from experimental compression injury of the spinal cord.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors