Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Mouse Model
Investigate your novel therapy’s potential in spinal cord regeneration using InnoSer’s clinically relevant spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model
InnoSer offers specialized preclinical contract research services using a clinically relevant spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection. Spinal cord injury is established by means of T-cut hemisection with a partial laminectomy at thoracic level eight (T8), transecting the dorsomedial and ventral corticospinal tracts, impairing other descending and ascending tracts.
Multiple spinal cord injury model systems have been developed to test the efficacy of novel therapies. Each model allows you to study specific pathological processes and specific therapeutic mechanisms of action. Accordingly, InnoSer’s experienced spinal cord injury team is capable of running efficacy studies in different models such as contusion SCI models and laceration SCI mouse models. Additionally, InnoSer’s Spa mouse model of spasticity may represent another translationally relevant model. However, as all models have their unique characteristics, we recommend discussing your study setup in close collaboration with our experts.
InnoSer’s scientists have extensive experience in modeling SCI in rodent models and have published numerous papers using the transection spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model (Erens et al., 2022). Accordingly, our staff is skilled in performing (stem) cell and medical device transplants as well as delivering (e.g., via intrathecal dosing) a range of therapeutics to evaluate the neuro–regenerative effects of your novel therapy.
InnoSer’s SCI model is a highly reproducible mouse model of spinal injury, allowing for quick set-up. Because of the immediate injury induction, immediate dosing or implantation of novel therapeutics can be performed. Therefore, the relatively short study timelines (4 weeks), can help you accelerate your preclinical spinal cord injury research.
Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Mouse Model characteristics:
- Standardized spinal cord damage in the SCI model is induced by T-cut hemisection combined with partial laminectomy at thoracic level eight (T8).
- Extensive and progressive neuroinflammation (astrocytes, microglia) and inflammatory cell activation and infiltration of peripheral immune cells).
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Key readouts in the spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model:
Test the efficacy of your treatments in the spinal cord injury model with the following readouts:
- Functional recovery assessment of hind limb motor function (Basso Mouse Scale Function scoring)
- CatWalk automated gait analysis
- Histopathology analyses (lesion size of the spinal cord injury, neuroinflammation, astrogliosis, microglia activation, de- and re-myelination, neuronal cell death, immune cell infiltration)
- Blood collection for PK/PD profiling
- CSF collection
- Biomarker analyses (qPCR, MSD, ELISA, Western blot)
- Peripheral immune cell response profiling (flow cytometry)
- Complementary in vitro assays (in vitro mouse and human immune cell activation and polarization assays, scratch assay, viability assay)
Example data featuring the spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model:
InnoSer offers specialized preclinical contract research services using a clinically relevant spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model.
Spinal cord injury is established using T-cut hemisection with a partial laminectomy at thoracic level eight (T8), transecting the dorso-medial and ventral corticospinal tracts, impairing other descending and ascending tracts. Consequently, the transection SCI model is characterized by severe and complete hind limb paralysis after the acute mechanical injury. Furthermore, secondary SCI occurs due to inflammation caused by excessive immune response triggered by the injury. This allows you to investigate potential treatment strategies that mitigate further spinal cord damage.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by means of T-cut hemisection model is characterized by severe and complete hind limb paralysis after the acute mechanical injury.
T-cut hemisection in wild-type C57BL7/J mice leads to complete hind limb paralysis recorded using the Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) that gradually improves over time. BMS is a 10-point certified scale that ranges from zero to nine, indicating complete hind limb paralysis or normal locomotion, respectively. The present study investigated whether treatment with the nitric oxide synthase substrate, L-arginine, improves SCI outcomes. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, mice treated with recombinant Arginase-1 show improved functional recovery at the end of the 28-day observation period.
Figure taken with permission from Erens et al. 2022.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection is suitable to test novel treatment strategies ranging from (stem) cell therapies to therapies aimed at mitigating neuroinflammation.
The present study investigated whether L-arginine depletion improves SCI outcomes related to secondary SCI-induced neuroinflammation such as microglial cell activation. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, mice treated with recombinant Arginase-1 show a similar level of neuroinflammation marked by microglial activation.
Figure taken with permission from Erens et al. 2022.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection is suitable to test novel treatment strategies ranging from (stem) cell therapies to therapies aimed at mitigating neuroinflammation.
The present study investigated whether L-arginine depletion improves SCI outcomes related to secondary SCI-induced neuroinflammation such as microglial cell activation. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, mice treated with recombinant Arginase-1 show a similar level of neuroinflammation marked by microglial activation.
Figure taken with permission from Erens et al. 2022.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection is suitable to test novel treatment strategies ranging from (stem) cell therapies to therapies aimed at mitigating neuroinflammation.
Microglial/Macrophage infiltration and activation are evaluated via intensity analysis of Iba-1 fluorescent images in the perilesional area of the lesion site.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection is suitable to test novel treatment strategies ranging from (stem) cell therapies to therapies aimed at mitigating neuroinflammation.
The present study investigated whether L-arginine depletion improves SCI outcomes related to secondary SCI-induced neuroinflammation. Representative immunofluorescent images show significantly lower amount of cleaved caspase 3/ NeuN double positive cells (pre-apoptotic neurons) in mice treated with recombinant Arginase-1 compared to vehicle-treated mice 28 days post-injury.
Figure taken with permission from Erens et al. 2022.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection is suitable to test novel treatment strategies ranging from (stem) cell therapies to therapies aimed at mitigating neuroinflammation.
The present study investigated whether L-arginine depletion improves SCI outcomes related to secondary SCI-induced neuroinflammation. Representative immunofluorescent images show infiltration of M2 and activated macrophages/microglia at the lesion site (left figure; MHCII and Arg-1) in response to recombinant Arginase-1 treatment. The right figure shows interactions between microglia/macrophages and axons. Treatment with recombinant Arginase-1 significantly reduced the number of contacts between Iba1+ and NF+ cells.
Figure taken with permission from Erens et al. 2022.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection is suitable to test novel treatment strategies aimed at mitigating secondary SCI induced by peripheral cell infiltration and inflammation.
The present study investigated whether L-arginine depletion improves SCI outcomes related to secondary SCI-induced neuroinflammation such as inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, mice treated recombinant Arginase-1 show significant decrease in the number of infiltrating CD4+ T cells at 28-days post SCI induction.
Figure taken with permission from Erens et al. 2022.
InnoSer’s spinal cord injury (SCI) mouse model induced by transection is suitable to test novel treatment strategies aimed at mitigating secondary SCI induced by peripheral cell infiltration and inflammation.
The present study investigated whether L-arginine depletion improves SCI outcomes related to secondary SCI-induced neuroinflammation such as inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared to vehicle-treated mice, mice treated recombinant Arginase-1 show significant decrease in the number of infiltrating CD4+ T cells at 28-days post SCI induction.
Figure taken with permission from Erens et al. 2022.
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AAALAC Accreditation
InnoSer has earned the AAALAC accreditation, demonstrating our commitment to responsible animal care and use. AAALAC International is a nonprofit organization that promotes the humane treatment of animals in science through voluntary accreditation and assessment programs. Our accreditation is valid for three years, incl. 2023. Read more about the AAALAC accreditation programme here.
Animal Welfare
The 3Rs impact everything from policy and regulatory change to the development and uptake of new technologies and approaches. This is why InnoSer has ongoing commitment and monitoring of these processes. The steps we practice maximize our ability to replace, reduce and refine animal involvement and facilitate our commitment to these principles when it comes to research and drug development.
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