Regional spinal cord blood flow in rats after severe cord trauma

Abstract

Spinal cord blood flow (SCBF) was measured in 12 albino rats following acute cord injury produced by the extradural clip compression technique. Severe injury was produced with the clip compressing the cord with a force of 180 g for 5 min, an injury previously shown to produce a severe functional deficit. Regional SCBF was measured 15 min, 2 h and 24 h after injury by the 14C-antipyrine autoradiographic technique and a scanning microscope photometer. At 15 min and 2 h, white and gray matter blood flow was severely diminished, and, at 24 h, there was only minimal improvement. Focal decreases in blood flow were seen in white and gray matter for a considerable distance proximal and distal to the site of cord trauma. This model shows that severe cord compression injury produces severe posttraumatic ischemia in the cord which lasts for at least 24 h.