Ahead of Print: Fluid Outflow in Syringomyelia
Background: Post-traumatic syringomyelia affects approximately 28% of spinal cord injury patients and current treatments are often ineffective. The pathogenesis of this condition remains poorly understood. Previous reports have focused on pathways and mechanisms of fluid inflow; however, disturbances of fluid outflow mechanisms and pathways may be important in syrinx formation and enlargement.
Objective: To determine the route of fluid outflow from a syrinx in an animal model of post-traumatic syringomyelia.
Methods: A model of post-traumatic syringomyelia using excitotoxic amino acid and kaolin-induced arachnoiditis was created in 12 merino wethers. Six weeks after syrinx induction, the cavities were localized and a CSF tracer, (horseradish peroxidase, HRP), was injected into the syrinx under ultrasonic guidance. After 10 minutes, the animals were sacrificed and the spinal cords harvested for microscopy.
Results: An extra-canalicular syrinx developed in six of the 12 sheep. HRP was successfully injected into five of the six syrinx cavities. HRP reaction product was observed in gray and white matter adjacent to the syrinx in a diffuse pattern. There were moderate amounts of HRP around the central canal and perivascular spaces, and minimal amounts in the dorsal subarachnoid space.
Conclusion: In this model of post-traumatic syringomyelia, fluid outflow occurred in a diffuse manner into the surrounding extracellular space and towards the central canal and perivascular spaces. Fluid outflow may be an important consideration in the pathogenesis of syringomyelia and the development of new therapies.
From: Fluid Outflow in a Large Animal Model of Post-traumatic Syringomyelia by Stoodley et al.
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