Endogenous recovery of injured spinal cord: Longitudinal in vivo magnetic resonance imaging

Pathological changes were followed longitudinally with in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and behavioral studies in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). MRI‐observed pathology was correlated with histology. On MRI, the cavitated regions of the injured cord were gradually filled with viable t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neuroscience research 2004-12, Vol.78 (5), p.749-759
Main Authors: Narayana, Ponnada A., Grill, Raymond J., Chacko, Tessy, Vang, Russell
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Bromodeoxyuridine - metabolism
Disease Models, Animal
Ectodysplasins
endogenous recovery
Endothelial Cells - metabolism
Exploratory Behavior
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - metabolism
Immunohistochemistry - methods
Longitudinal Studies
magnetic resonance imaging
Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods
Male
Membrane Proteins - metabolism
neovasculature
Neurofilament Proteins - metabolism
Psychomotor Performance - physiology
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Recovery of Function - physiology
Spinal Cord Injuries - metabolism
Spinal Cord Injuries - pathology
Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology
spinal cord injury
Staining and Labeling - methods
Time Factors
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Summary:Pathological changes were followed longitudinally with in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and behavioral studies in experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). MRI‐observed pathology was correlated with histology. On MRI, the cavitated regions of the injured cord were gradually filled with viable tissue between two and 8 weeks postinjury, and a concomitant improvement was observed in the neurobehavioral scores. By weeks 3–6, on MRI, the gray matter (GM) returned in the segments caudal, but not rostral, to the injury site. The corresponding histological sections revealed motor neurons as well as other nuclei in the gray matter immediately caudal to the epicenter, but not at the site of injury, suggesting neuronal recovery in perilesioned areas. The neuronal and neurological recovery appeared to occur about the same time as neovasculature that was reported on the contrast‐enhanced MRI, suggesting a role for angiogenesis in recovery from SCI. The role of angiogenesis in neuronal recovery is further supported by the immunohistochemical observation of greater bromodeoxyuridine uptake by blood vessels near the lesion site compared with uninjured cords. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
ISSN:0360-4012
1097-4547
DOI:10.1002/jnr.20275