Spinal cord injury models: a review.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Animal models are essential for studying spinal cord injury (SCI) mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.
• Significant progress has been made over 25 years in developing consistent and reproducible animal SCI models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To consolidate current knowledge on existing spinal cord injury (SCI) models.
• To introduce novel and emerging paradigms in SCI model development.

Main Methods:

• This review categorizes SCI models based on injury mechanisms: contusion, compression, distraction, dislocation, transection, and chemical induction.
• Specific devices and techniques for each model type are described, including weight-drop, electromagnetic impactors, controlled stretching, vertebral displacement, surgical transection, and chemical agents.
• The review discusses the suitability of different species, noting rodents for preliminary studies and larger animals/primates for approximating human SCI.

Main Results:

• Contusion models use weight-drop, impactors, or air pressure for acute injury.
• Compression, distraction, and dislocation models utilize mechanical forces to induce graded SCI.
• Transection models are valuable for regenerative medicine, while chemical models replicate secondary injury cascades.

Conclusions:

• All spinal cord injury (SCI) models strive to accurately replicate human SCI.
• Improvements in existing models and the development of new paradigms are expected to drive future advancements in SCI research.