| Abstract: | Fifty rats were used for the study of behavior
alterations and histopathologic changes in the spinal
cord after transection of the thoracic spinal cord at
level T12. Observations were made by light micros-
cope and transmission electron microscope. Three
stages of scar formation were recognized at the site
of the transection. The first stage occurred from 10
30 days after the operation. Proliferation of neuroglia
and connective tissue were the essential feature of
this stage; the second stage was from 2 t0 3 months
after surgery and began with organization of the
scar tissue. Connective tissue cells decreased and
collagen fibers increased in the third or post organiza
tion stage, occurring 6 t0 9 months after transection,
Collagen fibers and foci of neuroglia were the main
findings. There were more or less regenerative (or
recovery) reaction of the nervous tissue in the site
adjacent to the transection, and of the neuropils and
perikaryons at C4 and L4 levels from 3 t0 9 months
after surgery. From 4 t0 6 months after transection
some clumsy and uncoordinated movements appeared
in the hind limbs, which may be related to regenera-
tion in the Iumbar spinal cord gray matter. |
