Performing Thoracic Spinal Cord Hemisection Surgery in Rats

Secure an anesthetized rat with a shaved dorsal trunk in a stereotaxic frame.

Disinfect the shaved area and cover the rat with a drape.

Make an incision and retract the skin and subcutaneous fat over the thoracic T6 to T10 vertebrae.

Separate the paravertebral muscles to expose the T7 to T9 vertebrae.

Bilaterally cut the facet joints on the T7 and T8 vertebrae.

Superficially cut the dorsal connective tissue between the T8 and T9 vertebrae.

Remove the T8 spinous process and slightly rotate its lamina.

Cut the lamina on both sides, exposing the spinal cord.

Apply anesthetic and remove the dura covering the T8 spinal segment.

Identify the spinal cord midline and cut toward one side, without damaging the anterior spinal artery.

This hemisection disrupts the neural tracts on one side.

Place a saline-soaked absorbent sponge to control bleeding.

Suture the incision and allow the rat to recover.

After confirming a lack of response to toe pinch in an anesthetized adult rat, make a 2.5-centimeter incision in the shaved skin overlying the T6 to T10 vertebrae, and use blunt scissors to retract the skin and superficial fat. Use blunt dissection scissors and a self-retaining retractor to separat