[Effects of mechanical vibration on the morphology of the acellular scaffold for the spinal cord].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of mechanical vibration on the morphology of the acellular scaffold for the spinal cord and establish a procedure to construct an acellular rat spinal cord allograft retaining intact matrix fibers for repairing spinal cord injuries.


METHODS
Fifteen segments of rat spinal cord were divided randomly into 3 groups and subjected to mechanical vibration at the frequency 80 r/min (group A, n=5), 120 r/min (group B, n=5), and 160 r/min (group C, n=5) respectively. The spinal cord was treated with Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate at room temperature and washed with distilled water. The specimens were observed microscopically with HE staining, and the ultrastructure was observed using scanning electron microscope.


RESULTS
In group A, the spinal cord specimens contained numerous cells and neural sheaths. Vibration at 120 and 160 r/min (in groups B and C) resulted in depletion of all the cells, axons and neural sheaths from the spinal cord after treatment with Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate. The acellular spinal cord consisted of a meshwork of the matrix fibers in longitudinal arrangement. In group C, however, obvious disruption of both the spinal dura mater and the matrix fiber occurred in the acellular spinal cord.


CONCLUSIONS
All the cells, axons and neural sheaths in the spinal cord can be removed by chemical extraction with Triton X-100 and sodium deoxycholate. Mechanical vibration at suitable frequency may cell preserve the 3-dimensional structure of the matrix fibers. The acellular spinal cord scaffold may serve as an ideal material for constructing tissue-engineered spinal cord.
Yin
Wen-hua
WH
Department of Spine Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. yinwenhuawy@163.com
Jin
Da-di
DD
Deng
Xu-yong
XY
Lu
Kai-wu
KW
D000818:Animals; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000628:therapy; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D014732:Vibration