New minimally invasive model of spinal cord ischemia in rats.

We developed a new minimally invasive model of spinal cord ischemia in rats: intravascular occlusion of the abdominal aorta and its branches. This model can be used on small laboratory animals and allows qualitatively and quantitatively evaluating the morphofunctional state of the nervous system during spinal cord ischemia by clinical manifestations and histological changes. Selective intravascular occlusion determines minimal invasiveness and adequacy of the proposed model to in vivo pathological processes. This model of spinal cord ischemia can be used in experimental pharmacology for evaluation of neuroprotective activity of various drugs and bioactive substances.