Early changes in protein synthesis following spinal cord hemisection in the Cebus monkey (Cebus apella)

The Hemisection Approach in Large Animal Models of Spinal Cord Injury: Overview of Methods and Applications

Introduction: Translating basic science research into a safe and effective therapy for spinal cord injury (SCI) requires suitable large animal models for testing both implantable devices and biologic approaches to better approximate human anatomy and function. Hemisection lesions, routinely used for investigational purposes in small animals, are less frequently described in large animals that might be appropriate for translational studies. Size constraints of small animals (mice and rats) limits the predictability of the findings when scaled up. Our goal is to review the status of hemisection SCI in large animals across species and time to prepare for the testing of a novel intradural spinal cord stimulation device for control of spasticity in an ovine model. Methods and Results: We surveyed the literature on hemisection in quadrupeds and nonhuman primates, and catalogued the species, protocols and outcomes of the experimental work in this field. Feline, lapine, canine, simian, porcine, ovine and bovine models were the primary focal points. There is a consistent body of literature reporting use of the hemisection approach in large animals, but with differences in surgical technique depending on the goals and nature of the individual studies. While the injuries are not always consistent, the experimental variability is generally lower than that of the contusion-based approach. In general, as the body size of the animal increases, animal care requirements and the associated costs follow. In most cases, this is inversely correlated with the number of animals used in hemisection models. Conclusions: The hemisection approach to modeling SCI is straightforward compared with other methods such as the contusive impact and enables the transection of isolated ascending and descending tracts and segment specific cell bodies. This has certain advantages in models investigating post-injury axonal regrowth. However, this approach is not generally in line with the patho-physiologies encountered in SCI patients. Even so, the ability to achieve more control over the level of injury makes it a useful adjunct to contusive and ischemic approaches, and suggests a useful role in future translational studies.

[3H]lysine incorporation into protein of hemisected, cycloheximide-treated spinal cord

A single application of a protein synthesis inhibitor, puromycin, in the lesion site of a spinal hemisection transiently decreases protein incorporation for less than 24 h and results in axonal sprouting and dendritic and synaptic stability for at least 60 days. In this study we characterized the protein-altering properties of single applications of a different protein synthesis inhibitor, cycloheximide, for comparison. The protein incorporation of [3H] lysine into hemisected rat spinal cord (left side, T2) treated with cycloheximide (100 micrograms/ml in Gelfoam sponge placed in wound at time of lesion) was tested 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 1, 3, 7, and 14 days later and compared with that in 0.9% saline in Gelfoam implants as normal controls (N = 54). One hour prior to utilization, the animals were injected subcutaneously with 200 mu Ci L-[4,5(n)-3H]lysine monohydrochloride. No treatment-related differences in brain radioactivity were noted at any time postoperation. In spinal cord, inhibition of amino acid uptake by cycloheximide was not demonstrable at 3 h after hemisection, but could be detected from 6 h to 1 day after implantation. During that time, the TCA-soluble radioactivity at the lesion site was greater than in control animals (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that as with puromycin, morphologic effects produced by cycloheximide on spinal cord regeneration may correspond to chemical events which occurred within the first 24 h after cord hemisection and cycloheximide treatment.

Tritiated leucine incorporation in the developing hamster facial nucleus with injury: a liquid scintillation study

Tritiated leucine incorporation was examined after either crush or axotomy of the hamster facial nerve at specific stages in the maturation of the neuronal nucleolus. Changes in the neuronal metabolic response to injury in development were demonstrated with liquid scintillation examination of tritiated leucine incorporation into the trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-insoluble and TCA-soluble fractions derived from whole reactive and normal facial nuclear groups. Changes in incorporation seen in the developmental sequence were attributed to actual changes in neuronal protein metabolism, and not to changes in the amino acid pool, glial changes or hyperemic capillary changes. The ability to increase leucine incorporation over the normal as a result of injury in development coincided with the time of final nucleolar maturation in the facial motor neurons, beginning at approximately 20 days postnatal age. Thus, there is a correlation between a specific morphological event, the attainment of the mature nucleolar configuration, and the acquisition of the mature synthetic capacity as indicated by the ability to respond to injury in the mature manner.

Separation of radiolabelled protein from brain and spinal cord of spinal hemisected rats on SDS polyacrylamide slab gels

After hemisection of the spinal cord in rats, alterations in amino acid incorporation into protein have been observed in brain and spinal cord. Proteins mediating these changes have been studied in the present experiment. Male, Long-Evans hooded rats were given either a laminectomy and dura incision (sham) at spinal segment T2, a left spinal cord hemisection, or no operative procedures. One hour prior to utilization at 1, 3 and 14 days postoperation, amimals were injected subcutaneously with 200 microCi of [3H]-L-lysine and 200 microCi of [3H]-L-amino acid mixture. Samples were prepared for electrophoresis and proteins separated on linear gradient SDS polyacrylamide slab gels (7.5-20% acrylamide). The Gel slabs were cut into slices and processed for scintillation counting. In right somatomotor cortex, there was evidence for a general stimulation of amino acid incorporation at one day postoperation in animals which received surgery. At other postoperation intervals, significant increases in proteins in the regions of 90-150,000, 50-65,000 and 35-45,000 molecular weight (MW) were observed. In spinal cord, significant increases in proteins in the regions of 55-65,000, 30-45,000 and 15,000 MW were observed over postoperation time in all animals receiving surgery compared to normals. A large, significant increase in the radioactivity of proteins in the region of 18-20,000 MW were observed in the spinal cord lesion site of spinal hemisected animals alone at three days postoperation. These results indicate that increases in amino acid incorporation into the brain and spinal cord of laminectomized and spinal hemisected animals observed previously are theresult of both specific and nonspecific changes in protein incorporation of precursors.

Amino acid incorporation in medulla, pons, midbrain and cortex following spinal cord hemisection in the cebus monkey (Cebus apella)

The effects of spinal cord hemisection on protein labeling in the medulla, pons, midbrain, and cortex in the Cebus monkey were studied by measuring the uptake of [3H]lysine into the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) precipitable and non-precipitable fractions of brain. Animals were sacrificed 3, 6 or 13 days after hemisection. Two normal animals and a 3-day sham operate were utilized as controls. Differences included individual animals, operated vs. unoperated animals, brain areas, and variation of brain areas over all postoperative days. The overall trend in brain radioactivity over postoperative days indicates stress and non-stress related components of brain response to spinal injury. Left-right side differences (L greater than R) were noted in the uptake of [3H]lysine into specific areas of brain over postoperative time, including leg areas of motor cortex, occipital cortex, and superior colliculus. A biphasic action of leg sensory cortical areas over time was noted, where L greater than R for the first 6 postoperative days and R greater than L at day 13. The factors possibly mediating radiolabeled amino acid uptake into protein are discussed in relation to demonstrated anatomical and neurochemical regenerative processes.

Incorporation of (3H) lysine into the brain and spinal cord of the cebus (Cebus appella) and rhesus (Macacca mulata) monkeys

The relative amounts of incorporation of [3H] lysine into various brain areas and segments of the spinal cord in adult Cebus and Rhesus monkeys were studied. One hour after subcutaneous injection of [3H] lysine, animals were sacrificed and the brain and spinal cord samples taken and processed for [3H] lysine incorporation into protein (Lowry et al., 1951; Wells and Bernstein, 1976). Analysis revealed marked differences in metabolism among brain areas within each species of monkey as well as across species. Cortical structures were generally higher in radioactive uptake than subcortical structures in both species. The Cebus monkey had the greatest variation among brain areas, particularyly between cortical regions, whereas the Rhesus monkey did not show cortical variation in uptake. The ratio of incorporated to nonincorporated lysine in the brain and spinal cord was higher in the Rhesus than the Cebus monkey. Both species showed a rostrocaudal gradient of radioactivity following [3H] lysine incorporation into the spinal cord. Considering weight, size, and availability differences, the metabolism of [3H] lysine appears to differ by brain areas and spinal cord segments between species.