An experimental spinal cord injury rat model using customized impact device: A cost‑effective approach

Journal of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics, 2013 · DOI: 10.4103/0976-500X.114607 · Published: July 1, 2013

Spinal Cord Injury Pharmacology Neurology

Simple Explanation

The study addresses the need for a cost-effective method to induce spinal cord injury in rats for research purposes, particularly in developing countries where sophisticated impact devices are not affordable. The researchers designed a customized impact device based on the principles of a known weight dropped from a constant height, similar to Allen's method, but with modifications to improve consistency and reproducibility. The vertebral column was held in a position using two customized clamps which pinch the spinous process cranical and caudal to the laminectomy site.

Study Duration

10 weeks

Participants

Male Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The customized impact device produced consistent lesion effects in rats, as evaluated by behavioral scoring methods.
2
Animals subjected to spinal cord injury using the customized device showed comparable performance in behavioral tests (narrow beam, inclined plane, horizontal ladder) and BBB scores to those reported in studies using sophisticated impactors.
3
The study suggests that a cost-effective approach can be used for spinal cord injury research if lesion consistency is established using suitable behavioral methods.

Research Summary

The study introduces a cost-effective customized impact device for creating experimental spinal cord injuries in rats, addressing the financial limitations faced by researchers in developing countries. The method involves modifications to Allen's original approach, including a short tube with a wide diameter, customized vertebral clamps, and a stereotaxic frame to improve lesion consistency and reproducibility. Behavioral scoring methods validate the consistency of lesions produced by the device, and results are comparable to those obtained using more expensive, sophisticated impactors.

Practical Implications

Accessibility of Research

The study provides a viable alternative for researchers in resource-limited settings to conduct spinal cord injury research.

Animal Welfare

The modified method minimizes the elimination of post-operative animals without compromising quality and reproducibility, aligning with the 3Rs (Reduction, Replacement, Refinement) of animal research.

Methodological Advancement

The study highlights that even a simple aid to create experimental spinal cord injury in rats adopting the Allen’s concept of dropping known weight from known height to induce contusive type of injury in spinal at the thoracic level shows how a simple modification perfected our attempt.

Study Limitations

1
Histology was not used as a primary method to evaluate lesion consistency due to the difficulty in quantifying histological changes.
2
The study focuses on behavioral outcomes to assess lesion consistency, potentially overlooking detailed cellular and molecular level changes.
3
The generalizability of the customized impact device to other animal models or spinal cord injury types (e.g., compression, transection) is not addressed.

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