Animal Models of Spinal Cord Injury

Animal models of spinal cord injury may be used both to investigate the biological responses of the tissue to injury and to test potential therapies. The most widely used models involve contusion or compression injury delivered to the surgically exposed spinal cord. Transection injuries are often more suitable for detailed studies of regeneration. At times, in vitro models can be used to answer more specific questions of cell biology or therapy. Locomotory behavior and lesion site histology are commonly used to measure the outcome from injury and the success of experimental therapy. Both of these measures present significant problems of interpretation.