Neuromethods and assessment tools for traumatic spinal cord injury in rodents: A mini review

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most devastating neurological disorders associated with severe locomotor disability and a high rate of morbidity. Over the last 20-30 years, animal SCI models have proven to be extremely useful in better understanding the underlying molecular mechanism(s) involved in human traumatic SCI and in assessing the efficacy of available therapeutic agents. Thus, the current review article aims to provide readers with an overview of the methods used to induce traumatic SCI and highlight the recent advances in assessment of the functional recovery in rodent models. SCI models are classified into contusion, compression, transection, and Hypoxia-ischemia based on the mechanism of injury caused. Transection injury models are useful for studying the anatomic regeneration and neural circuitries in locomotion, whereas, compression/contusion injury models are used for studying complex biomechanism and neuropathology of human SCI. The ultimate goal of pre-clinical experimental work on traumatic SCI model is to develop effective repair/regenerative strategies for the clinical purpose. Here, we have summarized recent functional recovery assessment tool including quantification of myelin loss and motor neuron counts, axonal regeneration through behavioural and molecular studies.