The Hemisection Approach in Large Animal Models of Spinal Cord Injury: Overview of Methods and Applications

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine
• Animal Models

Background:

• Translating spinal cord injury (SCI) research to therapies requires large animal models that mimic human anatomy and function.
• Hemisection lesions are common in small animals but less described in large animals for translational studies.
• Small animal model limitations necessitate exploring suitable large animal models for SCI research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the status of hemisection spinal cord injury (SCI) models in large animals.
• To prepare for testing a novel intradural spinal cord stimulation device in an ovine model.
• To catalog species, protocols, and outcomes of hemisection SCI research in quadrupeds and nonhuman primates.

Main Methods:

• Literature survey of hemisection models in quadrupeds and nonhuman primates.
• Cataloging species, surgical techniques, and experimental outcomes.
• Focusing on feline, lapine, canine, simian, porcine, ovine, and bovine models.

Main Results:

• Hemisection models are consistently reported in large animals, with variations in surgical techniques.
• Injury consistency can be challenging, but experimental variability is lower than contusion models.
• Larger animals incur higher care costs and typically involve fewer subjects per study.

Conclusions:

• Hemisection SCI models offer straightforward transection of specific spinal cord tracts.
• This approach aids in studying post-injury axonal regrowth but doesn't fully replicate human SCI pathology.
• Controlled injury levels make hemisection a valuable adjunct for translational SCI research.