Abstract
The effect of mechanical lesion of the lumbar region of cat spinal cord on morpho-biochemical parameters of nerve cell viability was studied. The observations were performed 1, 2 or 4 weeks after a surgical trauma or sham operation.
One week after the transversal lesion (crush) of the lumbar spinal cord (at the level of L2), necrotic and degenerative tissue changes were spread approximately 30 mm to both sides from the lesion. Encapsulated hematomas in the white and gray matter accompanied by an increased number of reactive glia were found in both parts of the lumbar spinal cord neighbouring to the lesion.
Less pronounced gliosis and a few small cavities in the lumbar spinal cord were observed in more distant areas (10-20 mm). The extent of altered spinal cord corresponded to almost 5 spinal segments.
The extent of the spinal cord damage remained almost unchanged 2-4 weeks after the lesion. The area of necrotic tissue was smaller, but excessive gliosis was mainly in the white matter.
The activity of g-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) was used as a biochemical marker of the cell destruction in the lesioned spinal cord. One week after the mechanical lesion GGT activity was increased in all samples below the lesion.
Two weeks after the lesion, however, the activity of GGT decreased in all regions of the lumbar spinal cord. The changes in the GGT activity were localized preferentially to the funiculus lateralis and funiculus posterior.
In summary, the study has shown an almost unchanged extent of neurodegenerative and tissue destruction one week after the transversal spinal cord lesion. GGT activity changes proved that the post-traumatic cell reactions may exhibit some differences in areas proximally and distally from the lesion, mainly in the funiculus lateraris and posterior