The authors have no acknowledgements.

This protocol was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. Animal care and experiments were conducted according to the United States National Institutes of Health Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.
1. Surgical Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Prior to surgery, flush the catheters with sterile saline to ensure patency.</li>
	<li>Put a heating blanket on the operating table, and cover the table with a sterile drape.</li>
	<l...

<ol>
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III. The spinal cord arteries in man.</a> Acta Radiol Diagn (Stockh). 17 (3), 257-273 (1976).</li><li>Woollam, D. H., Millen, J. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+arterial+supply+of+the+spinal+cord+and+its+significance.">The arterial supply of the spinal cord and its significance.</a> J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 18 (2), 97-102 (1955).</li><li>Kennedy, H. S., Puth, F., Van Hoy, M., Le Pichon, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+method+for+removing+the+brain+and+spinal+cord+as+one+unit+from+adult+mice+and+rats.">A method for removing the brain and spinal cord as one unit from adult mice and rats.</a> Lab Anim (NY). 40 (2), 53-57 (2011).</li><li>Umehara, S., Goyagi, T., Nishikawa, T., Tobe, Y., Masaki, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Esmolol+and+landiolol,+selective+&#946;1+adrenoreceptor+antagonists,+provide+neuroprotection+against+spinal+cord+ischemia+and+reperfusion+in+rats.">Esmolol and landiolol, selective &#946;1 adrenoreceptor antagonists, provide neuroprotection against spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion in rats.</a> Anesth Analg. 110 (4), 1133-1137 (2010).</li><li>De Ley, G., Nshimyumuremyi, J. B., Leusen, I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Hemispheric+blood+flow+in+the+rat+after+unilateral+common+carotid+occlusion:+evolution+with+time.">Hemispheric blood flow in the rat after unilateral common carotid occlusion: evolution with time.</a> Stroke. 16 (1), 69-73 (1985).</li><li>Coyle, P., Panzenbeck, M. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Collateral+development+after+carotid+artery+occlusion+in+Fischer+344+rats.">Collateral development after carotid artery occlusion in Fischer 344 rats.</a> Stroke. 21 (2), 316-321 (1990).</li><li>Levine, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anoxic-ischemic+encephalopathy+in+rats.">Anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in rats.</a> Am J Pathol. 36, 1-17 (1960).</li><li>Prior, B. M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Time+course+of+changes+in+collateral+blood+flow+and+isolated+vessel+size+and+gene+expression+after+femoral+artery+occlusion+in+rats.">Time course of changes in collateral blood flow and isolated vessel size and gene expression after femoral artery occlusion in rats.</a> Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 287 (6), H2434-H2447 (2004).</li><li>Yang, H. T., Feng, Y., Allen, L. A., Protter, A., Terjung, R. L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficacy+and+specificity+of+bFGFincreased+collateral+flow+in+experimental+peripheral+arterial+insufficiency.">Efficacy and specificity of bFGFincreased collateral flow in experimental peripheral arterial insufficiency.</a> Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 278 (6), H1966-H1973 (2000).</li><li>Kakinohana, M., Fuchigami, T., Nakamura, S., Sasara, T., Kawabata, T., Sugahara, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Intrathecal+administration+of+morphine,+but+not+small+dose,+induced+spastic+paraparesis+after+a+noninjurious+interval+of+aortic+occlusion+in+rats.">Intrathecal administration of morphine, but not small dose, induced spastic paraparesis after a noninjurious interval of aortic occlusion in rats.</a> Anesth Analg. 96 (3), 769-775 (2003).</li><li>Horiuchi, T., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+effects+of+the+delta-opioid+agonist+SNC80+on+hind-limb+motor+function+and+neuronal+injury+after+spinal+cord+ischemia+in+rats.">The effects of the delta-opioid agonist SNC80 on hind-limb motor function and neuronal injury after spinal cord ischemia in rats.</a> Anesth Analg. 99 (1), 235-240 (2004).</li><li>Griepp, R. 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The authors have no competing financial interests. This work was supported by grant 2012R1A1A3014010 from the National Research Foundation of Korean Government.

In the current study, we demonstrated a rat model of spinal cord ischemia based on Taira and Marsala&#39;s method5 that induces variable degrees of motor deficit in the hind limb depending on the aortic occlusion time.
The length of aortic occlusion can affect the degree of motor deficit. If the aortic occlusion time is longer, the motor deficit becomes more severe. Thus, researchers can achieve a certain degree of motor deficit by controlling the aortic occlusion time ...

Paraplegia is a fatal complication of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. It results from spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury that occurs during cross-clamping and unclamping of the aorta.1 Several strategies including systemic hypothermia and cerebrospinal drainage have been introduced to protect the spinal cord,2,3,4 but many patients remain affected by the injury.
Several animal spinal cord ischemia models have been introduced to investigate its pathogenesis and devise protective strategies against the injury. In the current study, we outline a rat model of spinal cord ischemia based on Taira and Marsala&#39;s method.5 The spinal circulation system in rats is very similar to the spinal cord vascular and collateral system in humans, although there are some differences in the size and location.6,7 Thus, a rat is an anatomically suitable animal to utilize for an experimental model investigating the pathogenesis, complications, and treatment of spinal cord ischemia. Moreover, this spinal cord ischemia model produces reliable aortic occlusion with minimal intervention by utilizing an intravascular balloon occlusion of the thoracic aorta.
In this study, we demonstrated that this rat model of spinal cord ischemia induces reproducible motor deficits in the hind limbs that vary in severity depending on the aortic occlusion time.

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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">Fogarty Arterial Embolectomy catheter</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Edward Life Sciences</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">120602F</td>
			<td style="width:413px;">a balloon-tipped catheter inserted into the femoral artery</td>
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			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:269px;">BD Insyte-N Autoguard Shielded IV catheter&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">BD&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">381411</td>
			<td>24-gauge intravenous catheter</td>
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			<td>50-7221F</td>
			<td>Rectal probe for temperature monitoring</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Micro dissecting spring scissor</td>
			<td>Jeung do bio &#38; Plant co.LTD.</td>
			<td>JD-S-10</td>
			<td>Micro-scissor</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">SCISSOR (SHARP-SHARP)</td>
			<td>Jeung do bio &#38; Plant co.LTD.</td>
			<td>S-51-12-S</td>
			<td>Scissors</td>
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			<td>Jeung do bio &#38; Plant co.LTD.</td>
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			<td>Retractor</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Micro forcep&#160;</td>
			<td>Jeung do bio &#38; Plant co.LTD.</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:269px;">MOSQUITO FORCEP (Curved)</td>
			<td>Jeung do bio &#38; Plant co.LTD.</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DRESSING FORCEP&#160;</td>
			<td>Jeung do bio &#38; Plant co.LTD.</td>
			<td>S-37-16S</td>
			<td>Blunted forceps</td>
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		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">4/0 black silk&#160;</td>
			<td>Woori Medical</td>
			<td style="width:147px;">S431</td>
			<td>4.0 black silk suture</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">3-WAY STOCK</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">Seonwon Medcal</td>
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			<td>PHILIPS</td>
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			<td>Heating blanket</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Microtube and external reservoir</td>
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			<td>Microtube and external reservoir</td>
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			<td>Heparin</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">0.9% NS 1000ml</td>
			<td style="width:181px;">JW Pharmaceutical</td>
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			<td>Normal saline</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Isoflurane</td>
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			<td style="width:147px;"></td>
			<td>Isoflurane</td>
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reproducible motor deficit following aortic occlusion in a rat model of spinal cord ischemia

Spinal cord ischemia is a fatal complication following thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. Researchers can investigate the strategies for preventing and treating this complication using experimental models of spinal cord ischemia. The model described here demonstrates varying degrees of paraplegia that relate to the length of occlusion following thoracic aortic occlusion in a rat spinal cord ischemia model.
A 2-Fr. balloon-tipped catheter was advanced through the femoral artery into the descending thoracic aorta until the catheter tip was placed at the left subclavian artery in anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. Spinal cord ischemia was induced by inflating the catheter balloon. After a set period of occlusion (9, 10, or 11 min), the balloon was deflated. Neurologic assessment was performed using the motor deficit index at 24 h after surgery, and the spinal cord was harvested for histopathological examination.
Rats that underwent 9 min of aortic occlusion showed mild and reversible motor impairment in the hind limb. Rats subjected to 10 min of aortic occlusion presented with moderate but reversible motor impairment. Rats subjected to 11 min of aortic occlusion displayed complete and persistent paralysis. The motor neurons in the spinal cord sections were more preserved in rats subjected to shorter duration of aortic occlusion.
Researchers can achieve a reproducible hind limb motor deficit following thoracic aortic occlusion using this spinal cord ischemia model.

During a period of spinal cord ischemia, aortic occlusion was performed for 9 min (n=3), 10 min (n=3), or 11 min (n=3). The motor deficit index in rats is presented in Table 2. Rats that underwent 9 min of aortic occlusion showed a mild and reversible motor impairment in the hind-limb. Rats subjected to 10 min of aortic occlusion presented with moderate motor deficit, but not complete paralysis. Rats that underwent 11 min of occlusion time displayed complete and persistent paralysis.
Represent...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Reproducible Motor Deficit Following Aortic Occlusion in a Rat Model Of Spinal Cord Ischemia at JoVE.com

Reproducible Motor Deficit Following Aortic Occlusion in a Rat Model Of Spinal Cord Ischemia

This study demonstrates the technique to make a minimally invasive and easily reproducible model of spinal cord ischemia in rats. Various degrees of hind limb motor deficit can be produced by controlling the aortic occlusion time.

Spinal cord ischemia is a fatal complication following thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm surgery. Researchers can investigate the strategies for preventing ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to present the technique to make a spinal cord ischemia model in a rat. Demonstrating the procedure will be done by Mi-Sun Lim. The catheter placed in tail artery is used for monitoring of arterial pressure.After completing the catheterization, advance the Fogarty catheter through the femoral artery into the descending thoracic aorta. To induce spinal cord ischemia, inflate the Fogarty catheter and drain the blood flow from the carotid artery into the external blood reservoir for controlling proximal arterial pressure. After the scheduled occlusion time, deflate the Fogarty catheter balloon, reinfuse the drained blood and remove the femur catheter.Once the rat is anesthetized, place the rat in the operating table in the ventral position and maintain anesthesia with spontaneous respiration using a facial mask of inhaled isoflurane Make a horizontal skin incision on the right inguinal area. Using a 4.0 black silk suture, place a loose tie on both proximal and distal ends of the artery to maximize the exposure. While monitoring the arterial pressure through the tail artery, remove the catheters from the femoral and carotid arteries and close the wound with silk sutures.Hind-limb motor function can be assessed using the motor deficit index. The motor deficit index is defined as the sum of the scores in relation with the lower extremities plus placing/stepping reflex and the maximum deficit is indicated by a score of six. At the assessment of hind-limb motor function at 24 hour after surgery, rats that underwent nine minutes of aortic occlusion showed mild and reversible motor impairment in the hind-limb.Rats subjected to 10 minutes of aortic occlusion presented moderate motor deficit, but not complete paralysis. Rats that underwent 11 minutes of occlusion time, displayed complete and persistent paralysis. You can induce various degrees of hind-limb motor deficit by controlling the aortic occlusion time using this spinal cord ischemia model.Once mastered, this technique can be performed within 40 minutes. Thank you for watching and good luck with your experiment.

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7.1K Views.  SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul. The overall goal of this procedure is to present the technique to make a spinal cord ischemia model in a rat. Demonstrating the procedure will be done by Mi-Sun Lim. The catheter placed in tail artery is used for monitoring of arterial pressure.After completing the catheterization, advance the Fogarty catheter through the femoral artery into the descending thoracic aorta. To induce spinal cord ischemia, inflate the Fogarty catheter and drain the blood flow from the carotid artery into ...