title: Transient spinal ischemia in the rat: characterization of behavioral and histopathological consequences as a function of the duration of aortic occlusion.
abstract: To characterize the behavioral and histopathological changes that occur in spinal cord after transient ischemia, reversible occlusion of the descending aorta was achieved in the halothane (1-1.5%)-anesthetized rat by the insertion and subsequent inflation of a 2F Fogarty catheter for 10, 15, 20, or 30 min. Neurological recovery was tested during 8 h of reperfusion. After reflow, animals undergoing 30 min of ischemia displayed an initial flaccidity at 1 h, spasticity at 4 h, and flaccidity at the end of 8 h. Following 20 min of ischemia the initial flaccidity was followed by hindlimb spasticity that persisted for 8 h. Shorter intervals of ischemia had minimal effects on motor function. After reflow, animals developed a prominent allodynea, the incidence of which was dependent on the duration of ischemia. A clear correlation of histopathological changes with the degree of neurological deficit was noted. In spastic animals, small and medium-sized interneurons localized in laminae III to VII were affected. Animals with flaccidity at 8 h additionally displayed a significant incidence of argyrophilic A motoneurons in the ventral horns. Corresponding to the frequent appearance of allodynea, these animals also showed a significant number of damaged neurons in lamina II.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marsala
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Yaksh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003250:Constriction; D003971:Diastole; D006941:Hyperesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D007511:Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015424:Reperfusion; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D013997:Time Factors