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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;115:1310-1314
© 1998 Mosby, Inc.
SURGERY FOR ACQUIRED HEART DISEASE |
From the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and the Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Received for publication July 28, 1997. Revisions requested Oct. 28, 1997; revisions received Dec. 30, 1997. Accepted for publication Jan. 2, 1998. Abstract
Objective: The mechanism of spinal cord injury has been thought to be related to tissue ischemia, and spinal motor neuron cells are suggested to be vulnerable to ischemia. We hypothesized that delayed and selective motor neuron death is apoptosis.
Methods: Thirty-seven Japanese domesticated white rabbits weighing 2 to 3 kg were used in this study and were divided into two subgroups: a 15-minute ischemia group and a sham control group. Animals were allowed to recover at ambient temperature and were killed at 8 hours, and 1, 2, 4, and 7 days after reperfusion (n = 3 at each time point). By means of this model, cell damage was histologically analyzed. Detection of ladders of oligonucleosomal DNA fragment was investigated with gel electrophoresis up to 7 days of the reperfusion. Immunocytochemistry, in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated deoxyuridine triphosphatebiotin nick-end labeling staining was also performed.
Results: After 15 minutes of ischemia, most of the motor neurons showed selective cell death at 7 days of reperfusion. Typical ladders of oligonucleosomal DNA fragments were detected at 2 days of reperfusion. Immunocytochemistry showed in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemediated deoxyuridine triphosphatebiotin nick-end staining was detected at 2 days of reperfusion selectively in the nuclei of motor neurons.
Conclusion: These results suggest that delayed and selective death of the motor neuron cells after transient ischemia may not be necrotic but rather predominantly apoptotic.
Spinal cord injury after a successful operation on the thoracic aorta is a disastrous and unpredictable complication in human beings. The reported incidences of paraplegia range from 0.9% to 40%
1,2 in operations on the thoracic aorta. The cause of acute spinal cord dysfunction is believed to be due to spinal cord ischemia from hypoperfusion during crossclamping. Ischemia can occur because of permanent exclusion of the essential intercostal arterial blood supply to the spinal cord or by temporary interruption of blood flow to the spinal cord.
3,4 However, patients undergoing thoracic aneurysm repair who awake with no neurologic deficit immediately after the operation may sometimes have eventual paraplegia develop days or weeks after the operation.
5,6 In the rabbit spinal cord ischemia model we have reported delayed and selective motor neuron death after transient ischemia.
7,8 The exact mechanism of this phenomenon is not fully understood. To evaluate the mechanism of such vulnerability of motor neurons, we attempted to make a reproducible model for spinal cord ischemia and statistically analyze cell damage.
Recent studies have suggested that delayed neuronal death after transient ischemic injury in rat and gerbil brains has some apoptotic features.
9-11 Apoptosis is associated with the activation of a genetic program in which apoptosis effector genes promote cell death.
12,13 Apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death, plays a critical role in the regulation of development and maintenance of many tissues, including the central nervous system.
14-16 Therefore we examined oligonucleosomal DNA fragment ladders by gel electrophoresis and in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP)biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL staining) after spinal cord ischemia for possible involvement of apoptosis in ischemic neuronal death.
Materials and methods
Animal models
Thirty-seven Japanese domesticated white rabbits weighing 2 to 3 kg were used in this study and were divided into two subgroups: a 15-minute ischemia group and a sham control group. Anesthesia was induced with intramuscular administration of ketamine at a dose of 50 mg/kg and maintained with 2% halothane inhalation. A 5F pediatric thermodilution catheter (405, B. Braun Melsungen A.G., Germany) was inserted through a femoral artery and advanced 15 cm forward into the abdominal aorta. Preliminary investigations confirmed that the balloon in the distal end of the thermodilution catheter was positioned 0.5 to 1.5 cm just distal to the left renal artery. During the experiment, aortic pressures were continuously monitored at both the proximal and distal positions of the balloon. Body temperature was monitored with a rectal thermistor and was maintained at 37° C with the aid of a heating pad during operation and subsequent ischemia. Animals were allowed to recover at ambient temperature and were killed at 8 hours, and 1, 2, 4, and 7 days after reperfusion (n = 3 at each time point). In the sham control (n = 3), animals were killed just after insertion of the catheter into abdominal aorta without inflating the balloon. Spinal cords were quickly removed immediately after death by use of the plunger of a 1 ml syringe.
17 The tissue samples for DNA and TUNEL staining were frozen in powdered dry ice and stored at 80° C. The samples for histologic examination were fixed by immersion in 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer and then stored at 4° C for 1 week; they were then cut transversely at about the L2 or L3 level and finally embedded in paraffin.
In the experiment, rabbits were treated in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the Guiding Principles in the Care and Use of Animals. Also, the experimental and animal care protocol was approved by the Animal Care Committee of the Tohoku University School of Medicine.
Neurologic assessment
Neurologic function was observed at 8 hours, 1 day, 2 days, and 7 days after the procedure. Animals were classified with a five-point scale according to the method of Johnson, Kraimer, and Graeber
18: 0: hind-limb paralysis; 1: severe paraparesis; 2: functional movement, no hop; 3: ataxia, disconjugate hop; 4: minimal ataxia; 5: normal function. Two individuals without knowledge of the treatment graded neurologic function independently. Statistical analyses of the neurologic score were done with the Mann-Whitney U test.
Histologic study
The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and examined by light microscopy. With hematoxylin-eosin staining the large motor neuron cells were considered necrotic if the cytoplasm was diffusely eosinophilic and viable if the cells demonstrated basophilic stippling (that is, contained Nissl substance). To determine the ischemic change, another series of animals was allowed to recover for 7 days after sham operation (n = 8) or 15-minute ischemia (n = 10). The spinal cords were removed, fixed by immersion in 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer for 7 days, and then embedded in paraffin. The number of intact large motor neurons in Rexed's laminae VII, VIII, and IX was counted. Statistical analyses for the cell numbers were done with the Mann-Whitney U test.
Analysis of DNA fragmentation
The DNA was prepared according to the method of Linnik, Zobrist, and Hatfield.
19 The spinal cords were minced, and cells were lysed on ice in 5 mmol/L Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) containing 5 mmol/L ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and 0.5% Triton-X for 30 minutes. Genomic DNA was pelleted by centrifugation at 13,000g for 20 minutes. DNA that did not sediment during centrifugation was purified by phenol/chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (25:24:1) extraction and ethanol precipitation before RNase A digestion (100 µg/ml) for 30 minutes at 37° C. Samples were then extracted again with chloroform/isoamyl alcohol (24:1) and reprecipitated in ethanol; DNA was separated on 2% agarose gel, visualized with ethidium bromide, and photographed under ultraviolet illumination.
TUNEL staining
To detect DNA fragmentation in nuclei of the cells, the modified TUNEL reaction was applied to the cryosections according to previous method
20 using a kit (4810-30-K; Trevigen, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.). Nuclei of tissue sections were stripped of proteins by incubation with 20 µg/ml proteinase K for 10 minutes. After being treated with 0.3% H2O2 in distilled water for 5 minutes, they were incubated with TdT and biotinylated dUTP in TdT buffer in a humidified chamber at 37° C for 120 minutes. Further incubation with peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin was carried out for 30 minutes at room temperature. The slices were colorized with 3'3-diaminobenzidine/H2O2 solution and then counterstained with methyl green.
Results
When the balloon of the thermodilution catheter was inflated in the abdominal aorta, systemic blood pressure of the rabbits did not change. The arterial pressure distal to the inflated balloon, on the other hand, fell to near zero and no pulse was recorded. On deflation of the balloon, systemic blood pressure of this portion decreased for 15 minutes and then returned to the normal level (data not shown). Spinal cord ischemia was achieved by inflating the balloon so as to obstruct blood flow to the spinal cord.
21,22 The results obtained by gel electrophoresis, histocytochemical, and histologic studies were reproducible in animals at each time point.
Neurologic outcome
The results are summarized in Table I. In the sham operation group (n = 8) and in the 15-minute ischemia group at 8 hours (n = 3) and 1 day (n = 3) after the procedure, all rabbits were normal (grade 5). In the 15-minute ischemia group at 2 days after the procedure (n = 10), four rabbits (40%) were normal (grade 5), four rabbits (40%) had minimal ataxia (grade 4), and two rabbits (20%) had ataxia (grade 3). In the 15-minute ischemia group at 7 days after the procedure (n = 10), six rabbits (60%) did not hop (grade 2) and four rabbits (40%) had ataxia (grade 3). There was a significant difference between the Johnson neurologic scores at 2 days and at 7 days after the procedure in the 15-minute ischemia group (p = 0.0003). This difference was similarly marked between the sham control group and 15-minute ischemia group at 7 days after the procedure (p = 0.0001). Fifteen minutes of ischemia did affect neuronal function.
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We have demonstrated delayed and selective motor neuron death in lumbar regions of the rabbit spinal cord with a reproducible model. The neurologic and histologic patterns of the 15-minute ischemia group in our models are reproducible. Analysis of DNA fragmentation was also reproducible at each time point (Table III).
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It is known that two major forms of cell death, necrosis and apoptosis, have been distinguished morphologically,
25,26 although absolute criteria for distinction has not been delineated.
27 Necrosis is characterized by prominent acute cell body swelling with subsequent cell lysis. Apoptosis is characterized by compaction of the cell body and internucleosomal DNA fragments. TUNEL reaction is based on the specific binding of TdT to 3'-hydroxy termini of DNA, ensuing synthesis of a biotinylated polydeoxynucleotide polymer.
20 Obviously, fragmentation of nuclear DNA also occurs in necrosis. Because DNA is degraded by nonspecific lysosomal DNases in necrotic cells, these cells are supposed to be stained as well. However, because of nonspecific-DNA cleavage, necrotic nuclei might not exhibit a stainable concentration of 3'-hydroxy termini of DNA. A previous report showed that necrosis in glioblastoma sections was unstained by the TUNEL method.
28
The DNA ladder pattern with oligonucleosome-sized fragments of 180 bp by gel electrophoresis is commonly considered to be a useful biochemical hallmark of apoptosis.
29 The selective detection of DNA fragmentation in motor neuron cells at a stage of absent neuronal loss at 2 days may indicate that the apoptotic change is occurring in the spinal cord after 15 minutes of ischemia, and finally, about 70% of motor neurons were selectively damaged after 7 days of reperfusion. We present here our initial support, on the basis of the observed data, for the possibility that cell death may predominantly be due to apoptosis. This is the first study that demonstrates a role for apoptosis in delayed paraplegia.
In the gerbil brain the CA1 cells of the hippocampus are selectively vulnerable to ischemia and undergo cell death several days after transient forebrain ischemia.
30 Recent studies have shown that delayed neuronal death in the CA1 cells of the hippocampus after transient ischemia has some of the same features as apoptosis.
11,14 Thus our result suggests that delayed and selective motor neuron death after transient ischemia are consistent with the biochemical criteria of apoptosis. Therefore the mechanism of cell injury of the motor neurons in the spinal cord and the hippocampal cells of the brain after ischemia may be similar.
This study demonstrated that delayed and selective death of the motor neuron cells after transient ischemia in the spinal cord may not be necrotic but rather predominantly apoptotic.
Acknowledgments
We thank T. Sato, K. Itagaki, and K. Katusrada for their excellent technical assistance.
References
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