Effects of cervical spinal cord stimulation in experimental ischaemic oedema

Cervical spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been used in an animal model of acute ischaemic brain oedema. In anaesthetized rats a temporary carotid bilateral occlusion of 60 minutes was carried out, followed by a reperfusion period of 30 minutes before sacrifice. Two electrodes were placed in each side of the duramater at C2 level. SCS was started either 60 minutes before ischaemia or at the beginning of the reperfusion period. The parameters of stimulation were: pulse width 0.1 ms; frequency of 25 cps; intensity at one third of the threshold which produced motor responses. The specific gravity of the brain was measured at different areas using a microgravimetric technique in a bromobenzene-petroleum column. Our results indicate that: 1) cervical SCS reduces ischaemic cerebral oedema, 2) the effect is more prominent using stimulation during the reperfusion period, and 3) there were no differences in mortality rates or in the pathological study.