Selective vulnerability of white matter during spinal cord ischemia.
The long-term effects of spinal cord ischemia were studied in 21 rats by lesion scores (LS, n = 21), somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP, n = 16), electromyographic measurements (EMG, n = 12) and histology of the spinal cord (n = 21) 48.5 +/- 57.2 days after 10- to 12-min occlusion of the thoracic aorta and subclavian arteries. All the animals were initially paraplegic with a spastic presentation but seven recovered within 2 days (group A), demonstrating low LS (3.4 +/- 1.05) normal EMGs (n = 3) and unremarkable histology. The 14 paraplegic animals presented relevant findings of the lumbar cord consisting of white matter lesions only (group B, n = 7) or white and gray matter lesions (group C, n = 7). Group B animals showed severe deficit (LS = 11.8 +/- 2.93) without denervation on EMG (n = 5) or muscle atrophy on histology. Group C animals displayed equal impairment (LS = 14.4 +/- 0.71), denervation on EMG (n = 4), and muscle atrophy. Resting motor unit activity of groups B and C were significantly different from group A (p < 0.001), while LS of groups B and C did not differ (p = 0.083). These data underscore the nature and the extent of white matter lesions during spinal cord ischemia, a finding which has generally been eclipsed by emphasis on gray matter lesions in previous studies.
Follis
F
F
Department of Surgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque 87131-5341.
Scremin
O U
OU
Blisard
K S
KS
Scremin
A M
AM
Pett
S B
SB
Scott
W J
WJ
Kessler
R M
RM
Wernly
J A
JA
D000818:Animals; D004576:Electromyography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D008297:Male; D009420:Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D009434:Neural Pathways; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*