Importance of the vasculature in cyst formation after spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
Glial scar and cystic formation greatly contribute to the inhibition of axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). Attempts to promote axonal regeneration are extremely challenging in this type of hostile environment. The objective of this study was to examine the surgical methods that may be used to assess the factors that influence the level of scar and cystic formation in SCI.


METHODS
In the first part of this study, a complete transection was performed at vertebral level T9-10 in adult female Sprague-Dawley rats. The dura mater was either left open (control group) or was closed using sutures or hyaluronic acid. In the second part of the study, complete or subpial transection was performed, with the same dural closure technique applied to both groups. Histological analysis of longitudinal sections of the spinal cord was performed, and the percentage of scar and cyst formation was determined.


RESULTS
Dural closure using sutures resulted in significantly less glial scar formation (p = 0.0248), while incorporation of the subpial transection surgical technique was then shown to significantly decrease cyst formation (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the authors demonstrated the importance of the vasculature in cyst formation after spinal cord trauma and confirmed the importance of dural closure in reducing glial scar formation.
Rooney
Gemma E
GE
Department of Neurology and Molecular Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Endo
Toshiki
T
Ameenuddin
Syed
S
Chen
Bingkun
B
Vaishya
Sandeep
S
Gross
Louann
L
Schiefer
Terry K
TK
Currier
Bradford L
BL
Spinner
Robert J
RJ
Yaszemski
Michael J
MJ
Windebank
Anthony J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005911:Gliosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery