Combining Peripheral Nerve Grafting and Matrix Modulation to Repair the Injured Rat Spinal Cord

Summary

Traumatic injury to the spinal cord disrupts communication with the brain. To restore lost connectivity we utilize a peripheral nerve graft to provide a substratum for regenerating fibers in combination with neurotrophic factors and matrix-modulating enzymes to remove inhibitory molecules to promote long distance growth.

Abstract

Traumatic injury to the spinal cord (SCI) causes death of neurons, disruption of motor and sensory nerve fiber (axon) pathways and disruption of communication with the brain. One of the goals of our research is to promote axon regeneration to restore connectivity across the lesion site. To accomplish this we developed a peripheral nerve (PN) grafting technique where segments of sciatic nerve are either placed directly between the damaged ends of the spinal cord or are used to form a bridge across the lesion. There are several advantages to this approach compared to transplantation of other neural tissues; regenerating axons can be directed towards a specific target area, the number and source of regenerating axons is easily determined by tracing techniques, the graft can be used for electrophysiological experiments to measure functional recovery associated with axons in the graft, and it is possible to use an autologous nerve to reduce the possibility of graft rejection. In our lab we have performed both autologous (donor and recipient are the same animal) and heterologous (donor and recipient are different animals) grafts with comparable results. This approach has been used successfully in both acute and chronic injury situations. Regenerated axons that reach the distal end of the PN graft often fail to extend back into the spinal cord, so we use microinjections of chondroitinase to degrade inhibitory molecules associated with the scar tissue surrounding the area of SCI. At the same time we have found that providing exogenous growth and trophic molecules encourages longer distance axonal regrowth into the spinal cord. Several months after transplantation we perform a variety of anatomical, behavioral and electrophysiological tests to evaluate the recovery of function in our spinal cord injured animals. This experimental approach has been used successfully in several spinal cord injury models, at different levels of injury and in different species (mouse, rat and cat). Importantly, the peripheral nerve grafting approach is effective in promoting regeneration by acute and chronically injured neurons.

Protocol

1) Preparation for microscopic surgery

1. The surgical station needs to be clean and sanitized with a dilute bleach solution prior to setting out instruments and accessory materials. Instruments will be autoclaved 1 day prior to surgery and stored in a sterile container. Turn on the Hot Bead Sterilizer (Fine Science Tools) used to remove pathogens and microbial contaminants from instruments between procedures on different animals.
2. Plug in the thermal barrier used to maintain body temperature during the surgical procedure. Set out cotton swabs and gauze pads used to control bleeding. Prepare small (< 2mm³) pieces of Gel Foam to be....

Discussion

1. For reproducibility of the experiment it is important that the level of spinal cord injury be consistent from animal to animal. Therefore it is critical that the appropriate vertebral process for laminectomy be identified. Because we are using a hemisection or transection lesion model for this study there is no ambiguity about the size of the lesion or whether specific spinal tracts were injured or spared.
2. It is necessary that the peripheral nerve be pre-degenerated before transplantation because this initiates digestion.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
10-0 silk suture	ArosSurgical	T5A10N10
6-0 silk suture	McKesson	2693
Ampicillin	McKesson	483549
Antibody to cFos	Sigma-Aldrich	F7799
Biotinylated dextran Amine	Invitrogen	D7135
Buprenorphin (.3mg/ml)	McKesson	12496075701
Chondroitinase ABC	Associates of Cape Cod	100332-1A
Euthasol	Webster Veterinary	07-805-9296
Hanks Balanced Salt Solution	Cellgro	21-021-CV
Isoflurane	Henry Schein	209-1966
Michel Wound Clips	Fine Science Tools	12040-02
Neurotrace Kit	Invitrogen	N7167
True Blue	Sigma-Aldrich	T5891
Xenodine	Webster Veterinary	92201
Hot Bead Sterilizer	Fine Science Tools
Forced Exercise Wheel	Lafayette Instruments
TreadScan System	Clever System
Infinite Horizon Impact Device	Precision Systems and Instrumentation
Magnetic Stimulation Device	Magstim