Photothrombosis-induced Focal Ischemia as a Model of Spinal Cord Injury in Mice

Journal of Visualized Experiments, 2015 · DOI: doi:10.3791/53161 · Published: July 16, 2015

Spinal Cord Injury Cardiovascular Science Neurology

Simple Explanation

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to secondary ischemia, which worsens the damage. This study introduces a method using photothrombosis (PT) to create controlled ischemia in the spinal cord of mice, allowing for detailed study of this secondary injury. The procedure involves injecting Rose Bengal and then using a green light to create a blood clot in the spinal cord vessels. This clot induces ischemia in the targeted area, mimicking the effects of SCI-related ischemia. The resulting ischemic lesion leads to spinal cord infarction, loss of neurons, and reactive gliosis, making it a useful model for testing neuroprotective drugs and studying pathological changes in live mice.

Study Duration

3 days

Participants

Mice (C57BL/6J, male) aged 10 – 12 weeks

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Photothrombosis effectively induced spinal cord infarction in mice.
2
PT-induced ischemia resulted in neuronal loss and reactive gliosis in the spinal cord.
3
The mice exhibited neurological deficits, such as hind limb paralysis, after the procedure.

Research Summary

This study introduces a photothrombotic model of spinal cord ischemia in mice. The method involves inducing ischemia by injecting Rose Bengal and irradiating the spinal cord with green light. The results showed that PT induced spinal cord infarction, neuronal loss, and reactive gliosis. Neurological deficits, such as hind limb paralysis were observed after PT induction. The authors suggest that this model is suitable for studying the pathophysiology and mechanisms of cell death after SCI and for assessing neuroprotective agents.

Practical Implications

Drug Testing

The model can be used to assess the efficacy of neuroprotective agents on functional recovery.

Live Imaging

This model allows the study of pathological changes after SCI such as axonal degeneration and regeneration, neuronal and astrocytic Ca2+ signaling and overloading in live mice using two-photon microscopy.

Pathophysiology Research

The technique is useful for studying pathophysiology and mechanisms of cell death after SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Lack of an anatomically clear ischemic penumbra.
2
Absence of reperfusion.
3
Changes associated with reperfusion injury in SC will remain difficult to study using this model.

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