Bridging a spinal cord defect using collagen filament.
METHODS
A rat model of spinal cord defect was designed to evaluate the effect of collagen filament implant on nerve regeneration in the spinal cord defect.


OBJECTIVE
To bridge a spinal cord defect and restore the function in adult mammals.


BACKGROUND
Resection of the spinal cord in mammals is always followed by motor paralysis and loss of voluntary function below the lesion. Partial success in bridging the ends of the spinal cord after complete resection was reported. However, restoration of function has not been reported in adult mammalian.


METHODS
Four thousand collagen filaments 5-mm-long were grafted to bridge a 5-mm defect of rat spinal cord. Controls had their spinal cord defect left ungrafted after resection. At 1-week intervals, animals were evaluated functionally. After 4 and 12 weeks, animals were evaluated histologically. After 12 weeks, animals were evaluated electrophysiologically.


RESULTS
The severed spinal cord axons regenerated along the collagen filament implant crossing the proximal and distal spinal cord implant interfaces at 4 weeks after surgery. The rats with collagen filament grafts could walk, run, and climb with hind forelimb coordination at 12 weeks after surgery. Sensory-evoked potential waveform was found in the rats with collagen filament at 12 weeks after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The collagen filaments support the axonal regeneration of the transected spinal cord and the restoration of function.
Yoshii
Satoru
S
Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Kansai Denryoku Hospital, Osaka, Japan. K-20433@kepco.co.jp
Oka
Masanori
M
Shima
Mitsuhiro
M
Akagi
Masao
M
Taniguchi
Ataru
A
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003094:Collagen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
D003094:Collagen