Development of a Rat Model of Graded Contusive Spinal Cord Injury Using a Pneumatic Impact Device

Researchers developed a rat model of spinal cord injury using a pneumatic impact device to study injury mechanisms and potential therapies. The device allows precise control over impact parameters like velocity and depth, creating consistent and measurable injuries. Rats were divided into groups receiving different impact velocities, and their functional recovery and spinal cord damage were assessed.

• 1
  Increasing impact velocity led to more severe functional impairments and greater damage to the spinal cord.
• 2
  The pneumatic impact device created reproducible spinal cord lesions, demonstrating its value in assessing the effects of impact energy.
• 3
  Histological analysis revealed that higher impact velocities resulted in greater neuronal cell loss and microcystic formation in the spinal cord.