Adenovirus-mediated glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor gene delivery reduces motor neuron injury after transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has protective effects on various injuries involving the central and peripheral nervous systems in vitro and vivo. However, the possible protective effect of GDNF on spinal cord ischemia and the exact mechanism involved in the ameliorative effect of GDNF on ischemic spinal cord injuries are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the possible protective effect of the adenovirus-mediated GDNF gene delivery on transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits. METHODS: The adenoviral vector (lacZ gene as a control or GDNF gene contained) was injected directly into the lumbar spinal cord via a needle inserted into the dorsal spine 2 days before the animal was subjected to 15 minutes of spinal cord ischemia induced by infrarenal aortic occlusion. In situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL staining) was performed, and temporal profiles of the GDNF and caspase-3 (caspase-3 is the marker of apoptotic change) immunoreactivity were investigated. RESULTS: In the control rabbit, the majority of motor neurons showed selective cell death at 7 days of reperfusion. Immunocytochemistry showed that in situ TUNEL staining was selectively detected at 2 days of reperfusion in motor neuron nuclei. GDNF and caspase-3 were selectively induced in the motor neuron cells at 8 hours of reperfusion. In the GDNF-treated group, a large population of motor neuron cells was still surviving at 7 days after having been subjected to 15 minutes of ischemia. Unlike the control group, the GDNF-treated group expressed GDNF persistently. Induction of TUNEL staining and immunoreactivity for caspase-3 were greatly reduced by the GDNF treatment. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the reduction in motor neuron death by GDNF was greatly associated with a reduction in DNA fragmentation and apoptotic signals of the caspase-3 cascade; they further suggest a great potential for gene therapy for paraplegic patients in the future.     

MCI-186 reduces oxidative cellular damage and increases DNA repair function in the rabbit spinal cord after transient ischemia

Background

Paraplegia is a serious complication of operations on the thoracic and thoracoabdominal aorta. To investigate the mechanism by which motor neurons are damaged during these operations, we have reported a rabbit model of spinal cord ischemia. We also tested whether a free radical scavenger MCI-186 that is useful for treating ischemic damage in the brain can protect against ischemic spinal cord damage.

Methods

Fifteen minutes of ischemia was induced, then MCI-186 or vehicle was injected intravenously. Cell damage was analyzed by observing the function of the lower limbs and by counting the number of motor neurons. To investigate the mechanism by which MCI-186 prevents ischemic spinal cord damage, we observed the immunoreactivity of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine as an oxidative DNA damage marker and redox effector as a DNA repair marker.

Results

In sham control, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine was not observed, and the nuclear expression of redox effector was observed. In vehicle injection group (group I), the nuclear expression of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine was observed at 1 and 2 days after reperfusion. The nuclear expression of redox effector was observed at 8 hours and 1 day, and disappeared at 2 days after transient ischemia. In MCI-186 injection group (group M), the nuclear expression of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine was not observed, and redox effector was observed at 8 hours and 1 and 2 days.

Conclusions

These results suggest that redox effector decreased in motor neurons after transient ischemia and this reduction preceded oxidative DNA damage. MCI-186 works as a radical scavenger and reduced oxidative DNA damage, so redox effector did not disappear. MCI-186 could be a strong candidate for a use as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of ischemic spinal cord injury.     

Propofol reduces spinal motor neuron excitability in humans

IMPLICATIONS: We investigated in humans whether changes in spinal motor neuron excitability correlate with the predicted propofol concentration (Cpt) achieved by a target-controlled infusion system. Propofol suppressed F-wave persistence in a Cpt-dependent manner, indicating that propofol depresses spinal motor neuron excitability at clinically relevant concentrations.     

Lack of evidence for apoptosis as a cause of delayed onset paraplegia after spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

The mechanisms for delayed onset paraplegia after transient spinal cord ischemia are not fully understood. We investigated whether apoptotic motor neuron death is involved in its development. Spinal cord ischemia was induced for 15 min by occlusion of the abdominal aorta in rabbits. At 8, 24, or 48 h after reperfusion, hind limb motor function was assessed, and the lumbar spinal cord was examined morphologically (hematoxylin-eosin and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick-end labeling staining) and biochemically (breakdown products of alpha-fodrin and patterns of DNA changes). At each time point, 14 rabbits were studied (7 for histopathology and 7 for biochemical analysis). Six rabbits served as sham controls. Delayed motor dysfunction developed in two thirds of the rabbits. The motor neurons in the rabbits with motor dysfunction (not paraplegia) showed swelling and a finely granular dispersed Nissl substance. In paraplegic rabbits, destruction of the gray matter and prominent inflammatory cell infiltration were observed. No apoptotic motor neuron was found in any rabbit. There was neither detectable increase in a caspase-3-mediated breakdown product of alpha-fodrin, nor DNA laddering in any rabbit. The results suggest that apoptosis has a negligible role in the pathophysiology of delayed paraplegia in the spinal cord ischemia model examined. IMPLICATIONS: Although the possibility of apoptotic motor neuron death cannot be completely excluded, delayed onset paraplegia after transient spinal cord ischemia is largely associated with necrotic cell death.     

Endoplasmic reticulum stress induced in motor neurons by transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: The mechanism of spinal cord injury has been thought to be related to the vulnerability of spinal motor neuron cells against ischemia. However, the mechanisms of such vulnerability are not fully understood. Because we previously reported that spinal motor neurons were probably lost as the result of programmed cell death, we investigated a possible mechanism of neuronal death by immunohistochemical analysis for Grp78 and caspase12. METHODS: We used a rabbit spinal cord ischemia model with a balloon catheter. The spinal cord was removed at 8 hours or 1, 2, or 7 days after 15 minutes of transient ischemia. Histologic changes were studied with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Western blot analysis for Grp78 and caspase12, temporal profiles of Grp78 and caspase12 immunoreactivity, and double-label fluorescence immunocytochemical studies were performed. RESULTS: The majority of motor neurons were preserved for 2 days but were selectively lost at 7 days of reperfusion. Western blot analysis revealed scarce immunoreactivity for Grp78 and caspase12 in the sham-operated spinal cords. However, immunoreactivity for Grp78 and caspase12 became apparent at 8 hours after transient ischemia, which returned to the baseline level at 1 day. Double-label fluorescence immunocytochemical study revealed that both Grp78 and caspase12 were positive at 8 hours of reperfusion in the same motor neurons that eventually die. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that immunoreactivities for both Grp78 and caspase12 were induced in the same motor neuron that eventually dies. These results suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress was induced in motor neurons by transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.     

大鼠脊髓损伤后大脑运动皮质神经元凋亡的观察

目的:观察大鼠脊髓损伤后大脑运动皮质神经元的凋亡情况,探讨其相关因素.方法:SD大鼠72只,随机分为3组:阴性对照组(正常大鼠)、假手术组(单纯椎板切除)、脊髓损伤组(椎板切除+脊髓横断损伤),每组24只,各组分别于造模后1d、3d、7d、14d处死6只动物取材.应用原位末端标记法(TUNEL法)对脊髓损伤后大脑运动皮质区行神经元凋亡检查,并检测该区域神经元诱生型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)的表达情况,分析神经元凋亡与iNOS表达的关系.结果:脊髓损伤组大鼠大脑运动皮质区神经元在术后1d、3d、7d、14d的凋亡指数分别为(10.11±4.02)％、(56.53±8.63)％、(35.03±11.66)％、(3.78±1.03)％,均高于相应时间点阴性对照组和假手术组(P＜0.05),术后3d凋亡指数显著高于术后1d、7d和14d(P＜0.01).术后1d、3d、7d、14d脊髓损伤组大鼠大脑运动皮质iNOS阳性神经元百分数分别为(17.92±2.75)％、(60.65±8.78)％、(34.35±7.74)％、(6.12±1.99)％,1d、3d、7d时均高于相应时间点阴性对照组和假手术组(P＜0.05),14d时三组间无显著性差异;脊髓损伤组术后3d时显著高于其余时间点(P＜0.01).脊髓损伤组大鼠大脑运动皮质区神经元凋亡指数与iNOS阳性神经元百分数之间存在显著性正相关关系(r=0.89,P＜0.01).结论:大鼠脊髓损伤后大脑运动皮质区神经元凋亡增加,其可能与iNOS的表达增加有关.     

Adenosine A2A agonist reduces paralysis after spinal cord ischemia: correlation with A2A receptor expression on motor neurons

BACKGROUND: The adenosine A2A agonist ATL-146e ameliorates reperfusion inflammation, reducing subsequent paralysis and neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord ischemia. We hypothesized that neuroprotection with ATL-146e involves inducible neuronal adenosine A2A receptors (A2A-R) that are upregulated after ischemia. METHODS: Eighteen rabbits underwent laparotomy, and 14 sustained spinal cord ischemia from cross-clamping the infrarenal aorta for 45 minutes. One group (ischemia-reperfusion [I/R] + ATL) received ATL-146e intravenously for 3 hours during spinal cord reperfusion. A second group (I/R) received equivolume intravenous saline solution for 3 hours and served as an ischemic control, and a third group (Sham) underwent sham laparotomy. At 48 hours, all subjects were assessed for motor impairment using the Tarlov scoring system (0 to 5). Lumbar spinal cord sections were immunolabeled for A2A-R and graded in a blinded fashion using light microscopy. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in Tarlov scores in I/R + ATL animals compared with the I/R group. Sham-operated animals demonstrated no A2A-R immunoreactivity. There was a dramatic increase in A2A-R immunoreactivity in neurons of lumbar spinal cord sections from I/R compared with I/R + ATL and sham-operated animals. CONCLUSIONS: Reduction in paralysis in animals receiving ATL-146e correlates with the new finding of A2A-R expression on lumbar spinal cord motor neurons after ischemia. Adenosine A2A agonists may exert neuroprotective effects by binding to inducible neuronal A2A-R that are upregulated during spinal cord reperfusion, and reduced in response to administration of an A2A-R-specific agonist.     

缺血和再灌流对脊髓血流量及运动诱发电位的影响

本文采用家兔失血性休克模型，使血压下降至３０ｍｍＨｇ维持３０ｍｉｎ后再灌流，让血压回升到正常范围。观察缺血再灌流期 ＳＣＢＦ和 ＳＥＰ变化。缺血期平均动脉压 ３０～４０ｍｍＨｇ，脊髓 Ｔ１２及Ｌｌ节段灰质血流量减少５７％～６４％，白质血流量减少３２％～５０％；ＳＭＥＰ的潜伏期明显延长（Ｐ＜０．００１），各波的波幅降低并有２５％～６７％的波幅消失。再灌流期当血压回升到９０～１３０ｍｍＨｇ时，灰质血流量仍低于伤前（Ｐ＜０．０１），白质血流量无显著差异．ＳＭＥＰ潜伏期仍明显延长（Ｐ＜０．０５），除Ｐｌ波波幅下降有统计意义外，其它各波幅无差异，波幅消失占２５％～３３．３％。光镜下见脊髓存在损伤性病理变化，显示缺血再灌流后脊髓组织仍然存在继发缺血性病理损害和神经功能障碍。     

Reevaluation of gray and white matter injury after spinal cord ischemia in rabbits

BACKGROUND: Although gray matter injury has been well characterized, the available data on white matter injury after spinal cord ischemia (SCI) in rabbits are limited. The current study was conducted to investigate the evolution of ischemia induced injury to gray and white matter and to correlate this damage to hind-limb motor function in rabbits subjected to SCI. METHODS: Thirty-eight rabbits were randomly assigned to 24-h, 4-day, or 14-day reperfusion groups or a sham group (n = 9 or 10 per group). SCI was induced by occlusion of the infrarenal aorta for 16 min. Hind-limb motor function was assessed using the Tarlov scale (0 = paraplegia, 4 = normal). The gray matter damage was assessed on the basis of the number of normal neurons in the anterior spinal cord. White matter damage was assessed on the basis of the extent of vacuolation and accumulation of amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity. RESULTS: Tarlov scores gradually decreased and reached a nadir 14 days after reperfusion. There were no significant differences in the number of normal neurons among the 24-h, 4-day, and 14-day groups. The extent of vacuolation, expressed as a percent of total white matter area, was significantly greater in the 4-day and 14-day groups in comparison with the sham group. By contrast, there was no difference in vacuolation between the sham and 24-h groups. Amyloid precursor protein immunoreactivity was greater in the 4-day and 14-day groups. CONCLUSION: The results in the current study show that SCI induced white matter injury as well as gray matter injury in a rabbit model of SCI. The time course for 14 days after reperfusion may differ among the gray and white matter damages and hind-limb motor function in rabbits subjected to SCI.     

鼠后肢周围神经缺血再灌注对脊髓腰膨大前角运动神经元超微结构的影响

目的 探讨大鼠后肢周围神经缺血再灌注对脊髓腰膨大前角运动神经元超微结构的影响及其内在关系。方法 采用无损伤动脉夹暂时阻断大鼠一侧髂总、髂内、髂外及股动脉的大鼠周围神经缺血的实验模型，透射电镜下观察不同缺血再灌注时间脊髓腰膨大灰质前角细胞的超微结构改变。结果 对照组神经元的超微结构形态正常，缺血6h，8h，12h3组均出现暗神经元改变。缺血8h组，除暗神经元改变外，还出现明确的细胞坏死。缺血12h组，神经元暗细胞变与大片神经组织坏死并存，血脑屏障严重破坏。在缺血6h，8h，12h各组内，随着再灌注时间的延长(60h以内)，神经元的损害明显逐渐加重。结论 大鼠后肢周围神经缺血再灌注可相应地引起脊髓腰膨大前角运动神经元超微结构的改变，可引起神经元的暗细胞变和坏死。在同一缺血组内，随着再灌注时间的延长，神经元的损害逐渐加重。     

Survival and death-promoting events after transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits: induction of Akt and caspase3 in motor neurons

OBJECTIVE: The mechanism of spinal cord injury has been thought to be related to the vulnerability of spinal motor neuron cells to ischemia. However, the mechanisms of such vulnerability are not fully understood. We previously reported that spinal motor neurons might be lost as a result of programmed cell death and investigated a possible mechanism of neuronal death by means of immunohistochemical analysis for CPP32 (caspase3) and serine-threonine kinase (Akt). METHODS: We used a rabbit spinal cord ischemia model with use of a balloon catheter. The spinal cord was removed at 8 hours or 1, 2, or 7 days after 15 minutes of transient ischemia, and histologic changes were studied with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Western blot analysis for Akt and caspase3, temporal profiles of Akt and caspase3 immunoreactivity, and double-label fluorescence immunocytochemical studies were performed. RESULTS: The majority of motor neurons were preserved until 2 days but were selectively lost at 7 days of reperfusion. Western blot analysis revealed no immunoreactivity for Akt and caspase3 in the sham-operated spinal cords. However, such immunoreactivity became apparent at 8 hours after transient ischemia, decreased at 1 day, and returned to the baseline level at 2 days. A double-label fluorescence immunocytochemical study revealed that both Akt and caspase3 were positive at 8 hours of reperfusion in the same motor neurons, which eventually die. CONCLUSION: These results suggests that transient spinal cord ischemia activates both cell death and survival pathways after ischemia. The activation of Akt protein at the early stage of reperfusion might be one of the factors responsible for the delay in neuronal death after spinal cord ischemia.     

Transcranial myogenic motor-evoked potentials after transient spinal cord ischemia predicts neurologic outcome in rabbits

OBJECTIVE: Myogenic transcranial motor-evoked potentials (tc-MEPs) were applied to monitor spinal cord ischemia in the repairs of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. We investigated whether tc-MEPs after spinal cord ischemia/reperfusion could be used to predict neurologic outcome in leporine model. METHODS: Tc-MEPs were measured at 30-second intervals before, during, and after spinal cord ischemia (SCI) induced by balloon occlusion of the infrarenal aorta. Twenty rabbits were divided into five groups. Four groups (n = 4 animals in each group) had transient ischemia induced for 10, 15, 20, or 30 minutes. In fifth group, the terminal aorta at the aortic bifurcation was occluded for 30 minutes. All animals were evaluated neurologically 48 hours later, and their spinal cords were removed for histologic examination. RESULTS: The tc-MEPs in each SCI group rapidly disappeared after SCI. After reperfusion, the recovery of tc-MEPs amplitude was inversely correlated to duration of SCI. Tc-MEPs amplitude at one hour after reperfusion was correlated with both neurologic score and number of neuron cells in the spinal cord 48 hours later. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the neurologic deficits differed significantly between animals with tc-MEPs amplitude of less than 75% of the baseline and those with an amplitude of more than 75%. CONCLUSIONS: The amplitude of tc-MEPs after ischemia /reperfusion of the spinal cord showed a high correlation with durations of SCI, with neurologic deficits, and with pathologic findings of the spinal cord. Tc-MEPs, therefore, could be used to predict neurologic outcome. In particular, tc-MEPs whose amplitude recovered by less than 75% indicated a risk of paraplegia.     

Aprotinin reduces injury of the spinal cord in transient ischemia

Objective: The protective effect of aprotinin, which is a protease inhibitor, was assessed in a rabbit spinal cord ischemia model. Design: Randomized, controlled, prospective study. Setting: University research laboratory. Subjects: New Zealand white rabbits (36) of both sexes. Methods: In 24 animals, ischemia was induced with midline laparotomy and clamping the aorta just distal to left renal artery and proximal to aortic bifurcation for 20 min. Aprotinin was given 30 000 KIU as a short intravenous injection after anesthesia, and was followed by 10 000 KIU/h by continuous infusion in group 1 (n=12). Similar volume of saline solution was used in control group of animals (group 2, n=12). Group 3 of animals (sham group, n=12) were anesthetized and subjected to laparotomy without aortic occlusion. Physiological parameters and somatosensory evoked-potentials (SEP) were monitored in animals before ischemia, during ischemia and in the first 60 min of reperfusion. Their neurological outcome was clinically evaluated up to 48 h postischemia. Their motor function was scored, and the intergroup differences were compared. The animals were sacrificed after two days of postischemia. Their spinal cord, abdominal aorta, and its branches were processed for histopathological examination. Results: In group 3, SEP amplitudes did not change during the procedures, and all animals recovered without neurologic deficits. At the end of ischemic period, the average amplitude was reduced to 53±7% of the baseline in all ischemic animals. This was followed by a gradual return to 89±8 and 81±13% of the initial amplitude after 60 min of reperfusion in group 1 and group 2 correspondingly (P>0.05). The average motor function score was significantly higher in group 1 than group 2 at 24 and 48 h after the ischemic insult (P<0.05). Histological observations were clearly correlated with the neurological findings. Conclusion: The results suggest that aprotinin reduces spinal cord injury and preserves neurologic function in transient spinal cord ischemia in rabbits.