Comparative Neuroanatomy of the Lumbosacral Spinal Cord of the Rat, Cat, Pig, Monkey, and Human

Toossi, Amirali; Bergin, Bradley; Marefatallah, Maedeh; Parhizi, Behdad; Tyreman, Neil; Everaert, Dirk G.; Rezaei, Sabereh; Seres, Peter; Gatenby, J. Christopher; Perlmutter, Steve I.; Mushahwar, Vivian K.

doi:10.1101/2020.08.11.246165

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(43 reference statements)

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“…The lumbosacral spinal cord enlargements of domestic pigs and humans are largest and most similar in size (length and cross-sectional area) than those of rhesus monkeys and cats. 84 Moreover, the ratio of gray/white matter is quite similar in domestic pigs and humans, representing ~0.35 at the largest lumbar cord cross-sectional area, whereas it is ~0.38 and ~0.4 in monkeys and cats, respectively. For the cervical spinal cord, our results seem to compare similarly well to those of humans and differ from monkeys, cats and rats.…”

Section: Kinematics Of Locomotionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Neuropathological and Motor Impairments after Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Pigs

Cerro

Barriga-Martín

Vara

et al. 2021

Journal of Neurotrauma

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Humans, primates, and rodents with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) show permanent sensorimotor dysfunction of the upper/fore limb as consequence of axonal damage and local neuronal death. This work aimed at characterizing a model of cervical SCI in domestic pigs in which hemisection with excision of one centimeter of spinal cord was performed to reproduce the loss of neural tissue observed in human neuropathology. Posture and motor control were assessed over 3 months by scales and kinematics of treadmill locomotion.Histological measurements included lesion length, atrophy of the adjacent spinal cord segments, and neuronal death. In some animals, the retrograde neural tracer aminostilbamidine was injected in segments caudal to the lesion to visualize propriospinal projection neurons. Neuronal loss extended for 4-6 mm from the lesion borders and was more severe in the ipsilateral, caudal spinal cord stump. Axonal Wallerian degeneration was observed caudally and rostrally, associated to marked atrophy of the white matter in the spinal cord segments adjacent to the lesion. The pigs showed chronic monoplegia or severe monoparesis of the foreleg ipsilateral to the lesion, whereas the trunk and the other legs had postural and motor impairments that substantially improved during the first month postlesion. Adaptations of the walking cycle like those reported for rats and humans ameliorated the negative impact of focal neurological deficits on locomotor performance. These results provide a baseline of behavior and histology in a porcine model of cervical spinal cord hemisection that can be used for translational research in SCI therapeutics.

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Section: Kinematics Of Locomotionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Neuropathological and Motor Impairments after Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Pigs

Cerro

Barriga-Martín

Vara

et al. 2021

Journal of Neurotrauma

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“…Pigs are emerging as a favoured large animal model for SCI research [35]. The more human-like size of the porcine spinal column [36], spinal cord, and intrathecal space [37,38] compared to rodents, provides the opportunity to study CSF dynamics using clinical imaging modalities and in-dwelling pressure sensors. The anterior-posterior diameter of the spinal canal at T10 is approximately 20 mm in humans, 10 mm in 40 kg domestic pigs [36], and 2.7-3.3 mm at T12-L1 in rats [39].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterising spinal cerebrospinal fluid flow in the pig with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

Bessen

Gayen

Quarrington

et al. 2023

Fluids Barriers CNS

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Background Detecting changes in pulsatile cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow may assist clinical management decisions, but spinal CSF flow is relatively understudied. Traumatic spinal cord injuries (SCI) often cause spinal cord swelling and subarachnoid space (SAS) obstruction, potentially causing pulsatile CSF flow changes. Pigs are emerging as a favoured large animal SCI model; therefore, the aim of this study was to characterise CSF flow along the healthy pig spine. Methods Phase-contrast magnetic resonance images (PC-MRI), retrospectively cardiac gated, were acquired for fourteen laterally recumbent, anaesthetised and ventilated, female domestic pigs (22–29 kg). Axial images were obtained at C2/C3, T8/T9, T11/T12 and L1/L2. Dorsal and ventral SAS regions of interest (ROI) were manually segmented. CSF flow and velocity were determined throughout a cardiac cycle. Linear mixed-effects models, with post-hoc comparisons, were used to identify differences in peak systolic/diastolic flow, and maximum velocity (cranial/caudal), across spinal levels and dorsal/ventral SAS. Velocity wave speed from C2/C3 to L1/L2 was calculated. Results PC-MRI data were obtained for 11/14 animals. Pulsatile CSF flow was observed at all spinal levels. Peak systolic flow was greater at C2/C3 (dorsal: − 0.32 ± 0.14 mL/s, ventral: − 0.15 ± 0.13 mL/s) than T8/T9 dorsally (− 0.04 ± 0.03 mL/s; p < 0.001), but not different ventrally (− 0.08 ± 0.08 mL/s; p = 0.275), and no difference between thoracolumbar levels (p > 0.05). Peak diastolic flow was greater at C2/C3 (0.29 ± 0.08 mL/s) compared to T8/T9 (0.03 ± 0.03 mL/s, p < 0.001) dorsally, but not different ventrally (p = 1.000). Cranial and caudal maximum velocity at C2/C3 were greater than thoracolumbar levels dorsally (p < 0.001), and T8/T9 and L1/L2 ventrally (p = 0.022). Diastolic velocity wave speed was 1.41 ± 0.39 m/s dorsally and 1.22 ± 0.21 m/s ventrally, and systolic velocity wave speed was 1.02 ± 0.25 m/s dorsally and 0.91 ± 0.22 m/s ventrally. Conclusions In anaesthetised and ventilated domestic pigs, spinal CSF has lower pulsatile flow and slower velocity wave propagation, compared to humans. This study provides baseline CSF flow at spinal levels relevant for future SCI research in this animal model.

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“…education. Detailed knowledge of the neuroanatomy of the spinal cord is critical for veterinary students to understand its pathologies, for diagnoses and finding possible treatment for the common disorder of a nervous system (Lahunta et al 2008, Schoefert 2019, Toossi et al, 2021. The most common disease that brings about spinal cord problems in cats is neoplasia of the vertebral column (Marioni- Henry et al 2004), most commonly spinal lymphosarcoma (LSA) (Vail and Macewen 2000, Forterre et al 2007, Marioni-Henry et al 2008, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) (Baroni et al 1995, Legendre et al 1995, and intervertebral disc disease (Knipe et al 2001, Munana et al 2001, Lu et al 2002.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Silicone plastination of spinal cord of cat: as an alternative specimen for neuroanatomy education

Ekim

Yunus

Bakici

et al. 2022

Journal of Istanbul Veterinary Sciences

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Plastination is a technique that aims to preserve biological materials for education, training, and research. Plastinated models increase knowledge and skill, make students easily understand the complex anatomical parts of the central nervous system, meanwhile can reduce the use of animals in research and education. The study aimed to produce a silicone plastinated model of the spinal cord of a cat for practical teaching of neuroanatomy. The spinal cord of a stray cat that died of natural causes was plastinated using silicone plastination method. The cervical spinal nerves (1-8) and brachial plexus were demonstrated. The thoracic region of the spinal cord was also well preserved, but the demonstration of thoracic spinal nerves became very difficult because of too much thinness of the nerves. The lumbosacral plexus was preserved well. In this region cranial iliohypogastric nerve, caudal iliohypogastric nerve, ilioinguinal nerve, femoral nerve, gluteal nerve, ischiadic nerve, obturator nerve, pudendal nerve and cauda equina were visible. The spinal cord of cats prepared by silicone plastination methods can be used as an alternative sample to formalin preserved specimens.

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Comparative Neuroanatomy of the Lumbosacral Spinal Cord of the Rat, Cat, Pig, Monkey, and Human

Cited by 5 publications

References 48 publications

Neuropathological and Motor Impairments after Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Pigs

Neuropathological and Motor Impairments after Incomplete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury in Pigs

Characterising spinal cerebrospinal fluid flow in the pig with phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging

Silicone plastination of spinal cord of cat: as an alternative specimen for neuroanatomy education

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