Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion Model

Background: Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are the most common type of human SCI. Although various animal SCI contusion models have been developed to mirror human pathology, few have described cervical-level injuries. This study aims to validate and establish optimal impact parameters to produ...

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Main Authors: Jose A. Castillo, Michael Nhien Le, Christopher Pivetti, Jordan E. Jackson, Edwin Kulubya, Zachary Paxton, Camille Reed, Khadija Soufi, Arash Ghaffari Rafi, Allan Martin, Richard Price, Kee Kim, Diana Farmer, Aijun Wang, Rachel Russo
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:BioMed
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8430/4/4/39
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author Jose A. Castillo
Michael Nhien Le
Christopher Pivetti
Jordan E. Jackson
Edwin Kulubya
Zachary Paxton
Camille Reed
Khadija Soufi
Arash Ghaffari Rafi
Allan Martin
Richard Price
Kee Kim
Diana Farmer
Aijun Wang
Rachel Russo
author_facet Jose A. Castillo
Michael Nhien Le
Christopher Pivetti
Jordan E. Jackson
Edwin Kulubya
Zachary Paxton
Camille Reed
Khadija Soufi
Arash Ghaffari Rafi
Allan Martin
Richard Price
Kee Kim
Diana Farmer
Aijun Wang
Rachel Russo
author_sort Jose A. Castillo
collection DOAJ
description Background: Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are the most common type of human SCI. Although various animal SCI contusion models have been developed to mirror human pathology, few have described cervical-level injuries. This study aims to validate and establish optimal impact parameters to produce consistent incomplete cervical SCIs for testing novel therapies. Methods: Using a precise impactor, 3 cervical spinal cord hemi-contusions of varying severities were induced by modifying penetration depths and controlling dwell times. Penetration depths of 2.11 mm (<i>n</i> = 4), 2.24 mm (<i>n</i> = 4), and 2.36 mm (<i>n</i> = 3) were used with a dwell time of 0.05 s to create mild, moderate, and severe injuries. Behavioral assessments in weeks 1, 2, 5, and 8 included grooming test, forelimb asymmetry test, and the Irvine, Beatties, and Bresnahan forelimb scale (IBB). After 8 weeks, rats were euthanized, and spinal cord histology was performed. Results: Within each group, animals exhibited consistent motor deficits and functional recovery. Mean IBB scores varied significantly between each group at week 8 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Ipsilateral forelimb usage significantly improved throughout the study period in the mild (2.11 mm) and moderate (2.24 mm) groups, while the severely (2.36 mm) injured group continued to exhibit 100% asymmetrical forelimb usage. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a precise impactor can create reproducible models of incomplete cervical SCIs. A penetration depth of 2.24 mm resulted in moderate injury with significant motor deficits that slowly improved over time, permitting future therapeutic studies in functional recovery.
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spelling doaj-art-4ca0a38a80b94a8ca7a5743f769dd38d2024-12-27T14:12:24ZengMDPI AGBioMed2673-84302024-11-014452454010.3390/biomed4040039Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion ModelJose A. Castillo0Michael Nhien Le1Christopher Pivetti2Jordan E. Jackson3Edwin Kulubya4Zachary Paxton5Camille Reed6Khadija Soufi7Arash Ghaffari Rafi8Allan Martin9Richard Price10Kee Kim11Diana Farmer12Aijun Wang13Rachel Russo14UC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USAUC Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95817, USABackground: Cervical spinal cord injuries (SCIs) are the most common type of human SCI. Although various animal SCI contusion models have been developed to mirror human pathology, few have described cervical-level injuries. This study aims to validate and establish optimal impact parameters to produce consistent incomplete cervical SCIs for testing novel therapies. Methods: Using a precise impactor, 3 cervical spinal cord hemi-contusions of varying severities were induced by modifying penetration depths and controlling dwell times. Penetration depths of 2.11 mm (<i>n</i> = 4), 2.24 mm (<i>n</i> = 4), and 2.36 mm (<i>n</i> = 3) were used with a dwell time of 0.05 s to create mild, moderate, and severe injuries. Behavioral assessments in weeks 1, 2, 5, and 8 included grooming test, forelimb asymmetry test, and the Irvine, Beatties, and Bresnahan forelimb scale (IBB). After 8 weeks, rats were euthanized, and spinal cord histology was performed. Results: Within each group, animals exhibited consistent motor deficits and functional recovery. Mean IBB scores varied significantly between each group at week 8 (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Ipsilateral forelimb usage significantly improved throughout the study period in the mild (2.11 mm) and moderate (2.24 mm) groups, while the severely (2.36 mm) injured group continued to exhibit 100% asymmetrical forelimb usage. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that a precise impactor can create reproducible models of incomplete cervical SCIs. A penetration depth of 2.24 mm resulted in moderate injury with significant motor deficits that slowly improved over time, permitting future therapeutic studies in functional recovery.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8430/4/4/39cervical spinal cord injuriesspinal cord contusionprecise impactorpre-clinical model
spellingShingle Jose A. Castillo
Michael Nhien Le
Christopher Pivetti
Jordan E. Jackson
Edwin Kulubya
Zachary Paxton
Camille Reed
Khadija Soufi
Arash Ghaffari Rafi
Allan Martin
Richard Price
Kee Kim
Diana Farmer
Aijun Wang
Rachel Russo
Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion Model
BioMed
cervical spinal cord injuries
spinal cord contusion
precise impactor
pre-clinical model
title Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion Model
title_full Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion Model
title_fullStr Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion Model
title_full_unstemmed Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion Model
title_short Validation of a Precise Impactor in a Rodent Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Hemi-Contusion Model
title_sort validation of a precise impactor in a rodent cervical spinal cord injury hemi contusion model
topic cervical spinal cord injuries
spinal cord contusion
precise impactor
pre-clinical model
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8430/4/4/39
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