An experimental animal model of spinal root compression syndrome: an analysis of morphological changes of myelinated axons during compression radiculopathy and after decompression
Language English Country Germany Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- MeSH
- Time Factors MeSH
- Decompression, Surgical MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Low Back Pain etiology pathology physiopathology MeSH
- Spinal Nerve Roots injuries pathology physiopathology MeSH
- Disease Models, Animal MeSH
- Nerve Fibers, Myelinated pathology MeSH
- Cell Count MeSH
- Rats, Wistar MeSH
- Radiculopathy pathology physiopathology MeSH
- Nerve Regeneration physiology MeSH
- Nerve Compression Syndromes pathology physiopathology surgery MeSH
- Wallerian Degeneration etiology pathology physiopathology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rats MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
The treatment of radicular pain is mainly empirical because there are only few experimental studies dealing with morphological changes during compression radiculopathy. The goal of the study was to investigate changes in the morphology of myelinated axons during spinal root compression and the influence of decompression in a new rat model. The number of myelinated axons and their diameter were measured at 1, 2, 5, and 8 weeks during compression of the dorsal spinal root. The same approach was applied for 1-week compression followed by decompression for 1 or 2 weeks and compression for 5 weeks followed by 3-week decompression. A decrease in the number of myelinated axons (particularly those of large diameters) occurred after compression for 1 week. Continued compression for up to 8 weeks resulted in centripetal increase in the number of myelinated axons and the persistence of a small fraction of large myelinated axons at the site of compression. After that time, a decreased number of axons and a reduced fraction of large myelinated axons occurred again. Decompression after 1-week compression caused a rapid increase in the number of both small and large myelinated axons within the spinal root including the site of compression. A small fraction of regenerated axons was found after 5-week compression followed by 3-week decompression. Finally, we investigated the time course of the temporary increase in the number of regenerated myelinated axons during dorsal root compression for up to 8 weeks. The efficacy of decompression was superior when applied one week after compression or after regress of the acute phase of aseptic inflammation associated with fragility of spinal root. The results of the study verify the need for early surgical decompression to prevent irreversible damage of the spinal roots.
See more in PubMed
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1995 Feb 15;20(4):397-407 PubMed
Pain. 1998 Jul;77(1):15-23 PubMed
Bratisl Lek Listy. 2000;101(11):594-7 PubMed
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1996 Sep 15;21(18):2101-7 PubMed
Exp Neurol. 1995 Dec;136(2):183-98 PubMed
Pain. 1998 Nov;78(2):99-105 PubMed
Neurosurg Rev. 2002 Jun;25(3):162-5 PubMed
Surg Neurol. 1994 Oct;42(4):282-6 PubMed
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997 May 1;22(9):946-57 PubMed
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 1998 Jun;(351):241-51 PubMed
Bratisl Lek Listy. 1983;79(1):30-7 PubMed
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1991 Jan;16(1):61-9 PubMed
Brain Pathol. 1997 Apr;7(2):741-52 PubMed
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1994 Aug 15;19(16):1795-802 PubMed
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1998 Oct 15;23(20):2159-65; discussion 2166 PubMed
Pain. 2003 Sep;105(1-2):255-64 PubMed
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1997 Apr 1;22(7):721-6 PubMed
Pain. 1999 Apr;80(3):503-20 PubMed
J Neurosci. 1984 Jul;4(7):1736-44 PubMed
J Orthop Res. 2004 Jan;22(1):180-8 PubMed
