La trepanación vertebral como un método alternativo para la inoculación intraparenquimatosa de diversas suspensiones dentro de la médula espinal

Abstract

Delivery of drugs or chemical factors into specific regions of the spinal cord is usually carried out by laminectomy. The aim of the present work was to evaluate a trepanation technique as an alternative way of delivery suspensions into the cervical (C) spinal cord segments. For this purpose, male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. Before trepanation, the muscles of the cervical region were divulsioned. Once located at C4 and C5 vertebral archs, intervertebral disc trepanation was performed using a dental drill mounted on a rotatory drill. The performed hole served as an introduction point for the needle of the syringe containing saline. The solution was intraparenchymally delivered into the right side of the C5 segment. Prior to sacrifice at 24 h post-inoculation (p.i.) motor and sensory behavioral tests were performed. Subsequently, histolopathological studies and neuronal counting of the spinal cord segments were performed. Treated animals showed no functional variations in comparison to controls. Besides, those rats showed no structural changes at any side of the inoculated segment, except at the site of entry of the needle. The trepanation technique described here is accurate and fast enough; also, it is an easy technique to perform and may be used as an alternative method of laminectomy. Post-surgical trauma was not evident and the recovery of animals was fast. We propose that this technique may be a useful alternative way to deliver and distribute drugs, growth factors or other suspensions targeting the spinal cord.