title: Microglial activation in rat experimental spinal cord injury model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study was designed to evaluate the secondary microglial activation processes after spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A quantitative histological study was performed to determine ED-1 positive cells, glial cell density, and cavitation size in untreated SCI rats at days 1, 2, and 4, and weeks 1, 2, 3, and 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of glial cell quantification along the 4900-µm long injured spinal cord showed a significant increase in glial cell density percentage at day 2 as compared to other days. Whereas the highest increase in ED-1 immunoreactive cells (monocyte/phagocyte marker in rats) was observed at day 2 (23.15%) post-injury. Evaluation of cavity percentage showed a significant difference between weeks 3 and 4 post-injury groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a new insight into the multiphase immune response to SCI, including cellular inflammation, macrophages/microglia activation, glial cell density, and cavitation. Better understanding of the inflammatory processes associated with acute SCI would permit the development of better therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. takialtr@modares.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdanipour
authors.forename: Taki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tiraihi
authors.forename: Taher
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taheri
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kazemi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000870:Anterior Horn Cells / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D003288:Contusions / Q000473:pathology; D003720:Densitometry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D017628:Microglia / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers