Characterizing Non-Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Neonatal Sprague Dawley Rats

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) can occur from either traumatic or non-traumatic causes. While traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), caused by acute external forces, is well-researched, non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI), arising from chronic conditions like tumors and infections, is often underreported and misclassified. NTSCI is increasingly recognized as a major cause of SCI globally, particularly affecting the elderly and infants. Despite its prevalence, research on NTSCI remains limited, necessitating new models to understand its pathophysiology. This study introduces a novel, repeatable model for NTSCI in both neonatal (9 days post-partum) and adult rats (9 weeks post-partum), simulating chronic compression injuries. The model uses 3D-printed (PLA) spacers to induce mild-moderate compression in the lower thoracic vertebrae. Six weeks of spinal cord compression resulted in locomotor deficits and cellular changes consistent with hypoxic-ischemic injury due to disrupted blood flow, without significant long-term inflammation or astrogliosis. This versatile model can be easily adapted for different age groups, for graded injury severities, and for different injury durations. It offers a promising avenue for understanding and treating chronic compression NTSCI, addressing a critical gap in current research. This model can be used in future research to test and understand the effectiveness and pathophysiology of decompression and cellular interventions in response to chronic compression NTSCI.