Micro-CT as a Tool to Investigate the Efficacy of Tetramethylpyrazine in a Rat Spinal Cord Injury Model.

STUDY DESIGN The micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) was applied to assess the effect of tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) on experimental spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to explore the therapeutic effect of TMP on a rat SCI model using micro-CT. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA SCI is a devastating event and always accompanied by severe vascular injury. Promoting angiogenesis after SCI has recently been recognized as a potential way to enhance the neurological function recovery. How the TMP promotes angiogenesis and improved locomotor function recovery after SCI has, however, not been fully clarified. In this study, we used micro-CT to evaluate the effect on the microvasculature changes after TMP treatment. METHODS The contusion SCI model was induced in rats by a modified Allen's impact method. In the TMP treatment group, rats were injected intraperitoneally with TMP. The control group was treated with saline. Hindlimb motor function was evaluated using the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan score. Histology was employed to examine the pathological changes and quantified at 28 days after injury. Spinal cord vessel network and angiogenesis were assessed using micro-CT. RESULTS Angiogenesis was increased in groups treated with TMP compared with rat in the control groups (P < 0.05). Micro-CT vividly depicted the three-dimensional morphology changes of the spinal cord microvasculature after injury and demonstrated more vessels number, vessel volume fraction, and vessel connectivity value in the groups treated with TMP than in the control groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the injury-induced lesion area in TMP group was attenuated in comparison with control groups. Similarly, neurological functions were greatly improved in groups treated with TMP compared with rats in the control groups. CONCLUSION Micro-CT is useful for detecting angiogenesis after SCI. TMP therapy reduced the neuronal loss, promoted angiogenesis, and exerted a positive effect on neurological function recovery after SCI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE N/A.