A new model of upper cervical spinal contusion inducing a persistent unilateral diaphragmatic deficit in the adult rat

Research on spinal cord trauma requires models reflecting the contusion mechanisms encountered in clinical situation. The aim of this study was to develop in the adult rat a reproducible model of upper cervical spinal cord contusion inducing persistent unilateral diaphragm deficit. After dura and pia matter removal, weight drop and compression were targeted at the ventro-lateral funiculi which contain the bulbospinal descending respiratory pathways that command the phrenic motoneurons innervating the diaphragm. At 7 days post-injury, the left diaphragm activity recorded in contused rats (27.4 ± 5.1% of the contralateral activity) was significantly lower than in the sham group (97.6 ± 1.2%). This respiratory deficit still persisted 1 month later. Histology showed a reproducible left C2-lateralized lesion that involved both white and gray matter including the ventro-lateral funiculi. This C2 contusion model provides a basis for testing both regenerative and neuroprotective strategies aimed at improving functional respiratory recovery after spinal cord trauma.