Catecholamine fiber regeneration across a collagen bioimplant after spinal cord transection

A cell-free bovine derived collagen matrix was used to study potential axonal regeneration in transected rat spinal cord. Rats were initially subjected to a 200 g/cm force acceleration injury at T10 and 10 days later, the spinal cord was totally transected at the injury site. Controls had their spinal cord stumps juxtaposed end-to-end following transection. Experimental rats had 3-4 mm of spinal cord tissue trimmed from the proximo-distal stumps. The semi-fluid collagen material was implanted to bridge the proximo-distal ends and after several hours, the collagen graft polymerized to a firm gel. Rats were observed for 90 days. After 90 days, animals were evaluated using somatosensory evoked potentials, local spinal cord blood flow, and catecholamine histofluorescence in and around the site of transection. Results suggest that the collagen bioimplant can support the development of anastomotic blood vessels with the cord as well as provide a non-hostile environment to regenerating spinal cord axons.