Cervical central canal occlusion induces noncommunicating syringomyelia Article

Zhang, Y, Zhang, YP, Shields, LBE et al. (2012). Cervical central canal occlusion induces noncommunicating syringomyelia . NEUROSURGERY, 71(1), 126-137. 10.1227/NEU.0b013e31824d18ae

cited authors

  • Zhang, Y; Zhang, YP; Shields, LBE; Zheng, Y; Xu, XM; Whittemore, SR; Shields, CB

authors

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Mechanisms underlying the development of noncommunicating syringomyelia are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To assess the influence of focal arachnoiditis and central canal (CC) occlusion (CCO) on the formation of noncommunicating syringomyelia in the adult rat cervical spinal cord. Expression of pericanalicular aquaporin-4 is also examined. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to circumferential or dorsal arachnoiditis (n = 34). Rats undergoing CCO (n = 69) were divided into 4 groups: group A, kaolin injection at a single site in the dorsal columns near the CC; group B, kaolin injection at multiple sites in the dorsal columns near the CC; group C, saline injection at multiple sites in the dorsal columns near the CC; or group D, controls. Rats were killed at 1, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. The CC area and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) expression were measured at the level of maximal CC enlargement. RESULTS: Circumferential and dorsal arachnoiditis induced a mild increase in the CC area at 12 weeks. Single-site CCO induced slight CC enlargement. In contrast, multiple sites of CCO in proximity frequently induced a major expansion of the CC area (up to 50 times). Increased AQP4 expression was observed in pericanalicular astrocytes proportional to the degree of CC expansion. CONCLUSION: Multiple sites of CCO created a model of noncommunicating syringomyelia in adult rats. Increased astrocytic AQP4 expression was proportional to the degree of CC expansion. Modulation of aquaporin expression may be a novel target for therapeutic interventions to prevent syringomyelia. Copyright © 2012 by the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

publication date

  • July 1, 2012

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 126

end page

  • 137

volume

  • 71

issue

  • 1