title: Changes of the Electrophysiological Study in Dogs with Acute Spinal Cord Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study describes a method for inducing spinal cord injuries in dogs by using balloon catheters via laminectomy and the subsequent changes in the electrophysiological response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female Beagle (Orient Bio, Seongnam, Korea) dogs weighing 10 kg at the time of injury were used. Under inhalation anesthesia, a posterior midline approach laminectomy was performed. A silicone balloon catheter (size 6 Fr; Sewoon Medical, Cheonan, Korea) was then inserted into the vertebral canal at the center of T10. The balloon was inflated to the maximum volume for 1, 2, or 3 days. Open field testing was performed for evaluating motor functions of the hindlimbs. Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) induced by electrical and magnetic stimulation were recorded before and after spinal cord injury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Open field testing yielded locomotor scores of 0 or 1 for dogs subjected to compression for 3 days. These dogs showed no obvious improvement throughout the observation period, and the tonus of their hindlimbs was flaccid. In contrast, motor functions of dogs that had experienced compression for 1 or 2 days were variable, and all dogs showed spastic tonus in their hindlimbs. In dogs subjected to after compression for 3 days, electrically stimulated MEPs for the hindlimbs showed a significant amplitude reduction. Further, hindlimb movements were not evoked by magnetic stimulation of the cervical spine and vertex area.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compression for 3 days with a balloon catheter is a safe, reproducible, and reliable method for evaluating electrophysiological changes in a dog model of complete spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joongkee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheong Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Department of Neurosurgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Ryong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Hyo
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Stem Cell Therapy, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.; Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Je Hoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4656-0113
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
keywords: Balloon catheter; Canine model; Electrophysiological study; Spinal cord injury