Effect Of Epidural 6% Hetastarch On The Spinal Cord And Spinal Nerve Roots In Rats

Objective To evaluate the effect of epidural 6% hetastarch on the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots in rats .Methods Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats after successful epidural catheterization were randomly divided into four groups with six rats in each group . Except groupâ… , 0.2 ml of normal saline , 6% hetastarch or 40% alcohol was injected into epidural space via the epidural catheter in groupâ…¡, groupâ…¢, and groupâ…£respectively , once daily for 3 days . Pinch-Toe Test and Motor-Deficit , changes of body weight were observed for three weeks . Three weeks later , all rats were killed by intra-aortic perfusion of 3% paraformaldehyde-2% glutaraldehyde . The lumbar segments of the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots below L1 spinous process were removed immediately for light and electron microscopic examination .Results Positive rate of Pinch-Toe Test and Motor-Deficit in groupâ…£was significantly higher than that in groupâ… ,â…¡,â…¢(P<0.05) ; changes of body weight was significantly less in groupâ…£than that in groupâ… ,â…¡andâ…¢(P<0.05) . There were no statistical significances in Pinch-Toe Test and Motor-Deficit ,changes of body weight among groupâ… ,â…¡andâ…¢(P>0.05) . Under microscope: in groupâ…£disorder , isolation and edema of some myelin appeared , with distension of Golgi body in several motor neurons ; no significant structural changes of the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots were observed in groupâ… ,â…¡and III .Conclusion Epidural administration of 6% hetastarch 0.2 ml did not produce an obvious influence on the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots in rats .