Document Detail


Glial scar and neuroregeneration: histological, functional, and magnetic resonance imaging analysis in chronic spinal cord injury.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20672952     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECT: A glial scar is thought to be responsible for halting neuroregeneration following spinal cord injury (SCI). However, little quantitative evidence has been provided to show the relationship of a glial scar and axonal regrowth after injury. METHODS: In this study performed in rats and dogs, a traumatic SCI model was made using a weight-drop injury device, and tissue sections were stained with H & E for immunohistochemical analysis. The function and behavior of model animals were tested using electrophysiological recording and the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan Locomotor Rating Scale, respectively. The cavity in the spinal cord after SCI in dogs was observed using MR imaging. RESULTS: The morphological results showed that the formation of an astroglial scar was defined at 4 weeks after SCI. While regenerative axons reached the vicinity of the lesion site, the glial scar blocked the extension of regrown axons. In agreement with these findings, the electrophysiological, behavioral, and in vivo MR imaging tests showed that functional recovery reached a plateau at 4 weeks after SCI. The thickness of the glial scars in the injured rat spinal cords was also measured. The mean thickness of the glial scar rostral and caudal to the lesion cavity was 107.00 +/- 20.12 microm; laterally it was 69.92 +/- 15.12 microm. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide comprehensive evidence indicating that the formation of a glial scar inhibits axonal regeneration at 4 weeks after SCI. This study reveals a critical time window of postinjury recovery and a detailed spatial orientation of glial scar, which would provide an important basis for the development of therapeutic strategy for glial scar ablation.
Authors:
Rong Hu; Jianjun Zhou; Chunxia Luo; Jiangkai Lin; Xianrong Wang; Xiaoguang Li; Xiuwu Bian; Yunqing Li; Qi Wan; Yanbing Yu; Hua Feng
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of neurosurgery. Spine     Volume:  13     ISSN:  1547-5646     ISO Abbreviation:  J Neurosurg Spine     Publication Date:  2010 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-08-02     Completed Date:  2010-08-23     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101223545     Medline TA:  J Neurosurg Spine     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  169-80     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Neurosurgery, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Astrocytes / pathology*,  physiology
Axons / pathology,  physiology
Chronic Disease
Cicatrix / etiology,  pathology*,  physiopathology
Disease Models, Animal
Dogs
Evoked Potentials, Motor
Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Nerve Regeneration / physiology*
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Recovery of Function / physiology
Spinal Cord / pathology*,  physiopathology
Spinal Cord Injuries / complications,  pathology*,  physiopathology
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
J Neurosurg Spine. 2010 Aug;13(2):165-7; discussion 167-8   [PMID:  20672951 ]

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