Functional and structural recovery of injured spinal cord following delayed X-irradiation in rats / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test the hypothesis that delayed X-irradiation can enhance the functional and structural recovery of the injured spinal cord in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups, 35 rats in each. The control group sustained a one-minute clip compression (force of clip was 30 g) injury of the spinal cord at the T2 level, without X-irradiation. The experimental group received X-irradiation 14 days after injury. Neurological function was assessed by the modified Tarlov method, including hind limbs movement, inclined plane, and pain withdrawal. These tests were performed in a blinded fashion at 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after injury. At 43 days after injury, histological examination of the injured spinal cord was performed following decapitation of the rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-two rats met the experimental requirements (spinal cord injury was similar), 32 rats in experimental group and 30 rats in control group. Statistically significant difference was observed between the two groups in hind limbs movement and inclined plane (P < 0.01), but not in the pain withdrawal test. The edema and necrosis areas of injured spinal cords in experimental group were less than those in control group, and axons in experimental group were significantly more than those in control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Delayed X-irradiation following spinal cord injury may enhance functional recovery by improving and restoring structural integrity of the injured spinal cord in rats.</p>

Study of X-irradiation to enhance the functional and structural recovery of the injured spinal cord of rat / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore whether X-irradiation can enhance the functional and structural recovery of the injured spinal cord of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy Sprague-Dawley rats received spinal cord injury by clip compression at the T2 level were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group received X-irradiation at 14 days after injury, the control group did not receive X-irradiation. The functional tests were performed at day 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 after irradiation including open field movement, inclined plane and pain withdrawal test. All injured rats were sacrificed at 43 days after injury and the injured spinal cords were taken out for histological tests.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-two rats met the experimental requirements among 70 injured rats, 32 rats in experimental group and 30 rats in control group. Statistically significant difference was achieved between two groups in open field movement and inclined plane (P < 0.01), but not for the pain withdrawal test. The edema and necrosis area of injured spinal cords of experimental group were less than those in control group, and the number of axons of experimental group were more than those in control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>X-irradiation can enhance the functional recovery by improving and restoring structural integrity of the injured spinal cord.</p>