Therapeutic effects of hyperbaric oxygen and dimethyl sulfoxide following spinal cord transections in rats.
Thirty adult, male, Long-Evans hooded rats underwent spinal cord transections at the T5 vertebral level. Following surgery, animals were separated into three groups: Group I received only normal postoperative care; Group II received daily hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatments for 47-54 consecutive days; Group III received the same HBO treatment as Group II in addition to subcutaneous injections of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 10 consecutive days. All animals were killed 60-70 days postlesion. The lesioned area of spinal cord was removed and prepared for light and electron microscopy. Group I animals showed typical scar reduction of cavitations, increased scarring, and more nerve fibers within the lesion. Three animals in this group exhibited coordinated hindlimb movement, with one animal showing weight-bearing ability. The lesion sit in group III animals revealed a reduction in collagen formation and a further increase in the number of nerve fibers. Six animals in Group III showed coordinated hindlimb movements; among these two displayed weight-bearing ability and sensory return.
D000818:Animals; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide