| Abstract: | Quantitative studies with morphometric assessments were carried out on the slpinal cord of four cases (aged 71–88 years) with cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM), and compared with four normal spinal cords from age-matched cadaver specimens (aged 76–84 years). The histological preparation of the slpinal cord was made after embedding in celloidin and staining with luxol fast blue-periodic acid-Schiff-hematoxylin and Klüver-Barrera methods. the number, average transverse area and perimeter of the anterior horn cells (AHC) in the Rexed's lamina IX at C3, C5, C6 and L1 levels were counted and measured; the number, average transverse area and perimeter of axon in the posterior funiculus at C3 level and in the lateral corticospinal tracts at L1 level were also counted and measured under high magnification with oil immersion (1340 times), using a combination of an electronic optical planimeter, a microscope with a drawing tube, and a personal computer. The results can be summarized as: (i) The numbers of AHC in CSM at C5, C6 and L1 levels were significantly decreased compared with normal controls, and the average transverse area of AHC at C6 and L1 levels showed a decrease in varying degrees (p<0.05 or P<0.01, respectively). However, the number and average area of AHC in CSM at C3 level did not show any difference. (ii) The number and average transverse area of axons in the posterior funiculus with CSM at C3 level showed a significant reduction compared with normal controls (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). (iii) There was an obvious decrease in the number of axons in the lateral corticospinal tracts of CSM at L1 level (P<0.01), but the average area of axons showed no statistical reduction. It can be deduced from these results that there were ascending degeneration of the posterior funciculus and descending degeneration of the lateral corticospinal tracts above and below the segments of comparession caused by CSM. The loss in number and reduction in transverse area of AHC mainly occurred in those segments involved with compression. However, the result of AHC at L1 level revealed that CSM may have a distal influence on AHC below thesegments of compression. |
