Animal model of contusion compression spinal cord injury by Yasargil aneurysm clip

Abstract

Animal spinal cord injury (SCI) models have shown to be invaluable in better understanding the mechanisms related to traumatic SCI and evaluating the effectiveness of experimental therapeutic interventions. The use of clip compression can produce contusion–compression SCI models in rats with clinical features in the form of total paralysis, retention of micturition, and retention of defecation. This study aimed to validate the effects of the duration of Yasargil aneurysm clip application on the formation of SCI models with analyzed neuropathic pain, locomotor function, histology, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Methods: We did true experimental study investigated 20 Sprague Dawley divided into normal, 30-second, 60-second, and 90-second groups. Contusion–compression model of SCI post-laminectomy was done in 0, 30, 60, and 90 seconds using a Yasargil aneurysm clip, with a force of 65g (150kDyne). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 for Windows. Result: We found that the locomotor expression did not indicate total paralysis after compression durations of 0 and 30 seconds, while compression durations of 60 and 90 seconds could result in total paralysis. There was no significant difference in the mean BBB scores between the compression durations of 60 and 90 seconds (p=1.000). In addition, there was no significant difference in the mean RGS value between the 60-second model group and the 90-second model group on days 21 and 28 (p=1.000; p=0.900). The histological pictures at compression durations of 60 and 90 seconds show severe damage to spinal cord continuity. There was no significant difference in the mean value of TNF-α between the duration compressions of 60 and 90 seconds (p=0.937). Conclusion: The use of Yasargil aneurysm clips for 60 and 90 seconds could produce a contusion–compression SCI model with expressions of neuropathic pain, locomotor function, histology, and pro-inflammatory cytokine.