Model for avulsion injury in the rat brachial plexus using passive acceleration

✍ Scribed by R.J. Spinner; A. Khoobehi; S. Kazmi; J.A. Krumreich; S. Zhao; Z. Zhang; D.G. Kline; R.W. Beuerman

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2000
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 404 KB
• Volume: 20
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0738-1085
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2752(2000)20:2<94::aid-micr8>3.0.co;2-l

✦ Synopsis

We have developed an experimental model for brachial plexus injuries in the rat that closely simulates the characteristics of human injury. This model produces avulsion injuries in a noninvasive manner. A prototype apparatus was designed that allowed a force to be transmitted to a restrained limb by passive acceleration. Reproducible results were obtained in 32 rats. A significant correlation was found between the test weight and the number of roots avulsed (r = 0.92; P < 0.05). The amount of force also correlated to the pattern of avulsion injury: a 230-g weight produced either C6 (54%), C7 (15%), or C6 and C7 (31%) avulsions; a 330-g weight produced C6 (18%), C7 (9%), or C6 and C7 (73%) avulsions; a 530-g weight produced C5 through C8 (75%) or C6 through T1 (25%) avulsions. This model of brachial plexus injury may be useful to further our understanding of the cellular response to this incapacitating injury and to develop therapeutic strategies with behavioral correlates.