Spinal cord regeneration: new experimental approach

An experimental study was conducted to enhance regeneration in the spinal cord. Twenty Swiss albino rats were used, of which 8 were controls, and hemicordotomy was performed at mid-thoracic level. In 12 rats a segment of peripheral nerve (sciatic) autograft was taken, minced and implanted in the hemicordotomy site. All the rats were sacrificed at 4-12 weeks. Fixation was carried out by intracardiac perfusion of fixative. Light microscopy was used to study the hemicordotomy site. Two observations were made; first, regeneration of the cord was greatly enhanced, and second, the spinal cord caudal to the hemicordotomy did not disintegrate in the grafted cords.