Studies in experimental spinal cord trauma

Abstract

✓ A chronic clinicopathological study in 43 mongrel dogs evaluates the therapeutic effect of microcirculatory augmentation, an anti-edema agent, catecholamine (CA) receptor blockers, and a CA synthesis inhibitor. Results showed a high degree of clinical protection conferred by phenoxybenzamine, an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker, and a lesser degree of protection from haloperidol, a domaminergic blocker, and low molecular weight dextran. Alpha-methyltyrosine given post-injury and steroids were of no therapeutic value. There was a correlation between microscopic white matter protection and clinical result. The presence of central gray necrosis was rather constant irrespective of therapy or clinical result.

Effects of Methylprednisolone on the Neural Conduction of the Motor Evoked Potentials in Spinal Cord Injured Rats

“…Several studies have shown that MP recovers post-traumatic functional deficits in experimental SCIs using a weight drop in different species such as the rat (15), cat (16, 17), and monkey (18). However, some studies have reported that MP is not effective for improving functional recovery after different injury models such as the weight drop (19, 20), clip compression (8, 21, 22), and heat injury with a radiofrequency current (23), in different species such as the dog (19), cat (20) and rat (8, 19, 21-23). In the present study, we observed behavioral recovery after a MP injection using a weight drop model using the BBB test.…”

The Spinal Monoaminergic Systems Relating to Ejaculation Ejaculation and Monoamines After Spinal Cord Transection

“…In our previous papers (Kimura et al -1982 and1983) it was described that ejaculation is controlled by a balance between the catecholaminergic and serotonergic systems in the spinal cord as well as in the brain and that ejaculation is facilitated by the dopaminergic system and inhibited by the serotonergic system. On the other hand, the fact that spinal transection interrupts all monoamine axons is well-known Carlsson et al -1963;Hedeman et al -1974;Naftchi et al -1974). and it is widely accepted that spinal cord transection, therefore, stops neuronal impulses in monoamine nerves distal to the transection.…”

Second Sir George Montario Bedbrook Oration − 1999 Some milestones in the life of George Bedbrook. Their relationship to management and research of spinal cord injuries

“…Trauma to the cord was postulated to induce perverted or excessive response with release of catecholamines resulting in vasospasm, anoxia and necrosis of the injured spinal cord. Several researchers were unable to reproduce these findings 89−91 . Post‐traumatic hypotension appeared significant in the pathogenesis of cord haemorrhage 89…”