Vycril 5 0

Rats received a moderate (12.5 g-cm) thoracic (T10) spinal cord contusion delivered by the New York University Impactor as described previously (Magnuson et al., 2009 (link)). Briefly, surgical procedures were carried out under Pentobarbital (IP, 50 mg/Kg) anesthesia and all animals received prophylactic antibiotics (Gentamicin, 15mg/Kg sc). Once anaesthetized, the surgical site was shaved and disinfected with chlorhexadine digluconate (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO). The eyes were protected with Lacri-lube (Allergan, Irvine, CA). A midline dorsal skin incision was made exposing the thoracic and upper lumbar spinal column and the muscles were dissected to expose the vertebral laminae from T8 to T11. This was followed by a laminectomy of the T9 vertebra and, following securing the vertebral column with clamps at T8 and T10, delivery of the contusion to the T10 spinal cord leaving the dura intact. Muscles were sutured with vycril 5-0 (Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Blue Ash, OH) and the skin was closed with stainless steel staples. After the surgery, the rats were given 0.05 mg/kg of buprenorphine (Henry Schein, Indianapolis, IN, USA) and 5.0 ml of saline. This was followed up by a 0.03 mg/kg dose of buprenorphine 8 hrs later and additional saline if the animals showed signs of dehydration.