• J-W Wu, J-Z Hu, X-Y Wang, H-B Lv, and T-D Wu.
• Department of Spinal Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, PR China.
• Spinal Cord. 2010 Apr 6.

AbstractStudy design:Disturbance of gastrointestinal motility following acute spinal cord injury complicated with paraplegia can lead to bacterial overgrowth in the gastrointestinal tract, and increase the incidence of bacterial translocation. Experiments in a New Zealand rabbit model of acute spinal cord injury were performed.Objective:This study was designed to determine if the electrical stimulation of the sacral nerve prevents gut-origin bacterial translocation and endotoxemia in an animal model of acute spinal cord injury.Settings:Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Hunan, PR China.Methods:New Zealand rabbits were divided into three groups: Control group, Paraplegic Vehicle group without sacral nerve stimulation and Paraplegic Experiment group with sacral nerve stimulation. Blood and multiple organs were collected for bacterial cultures and endotoxin determination at 24, 48 and 72 h following spinal cord injury. The histology and ultra-structural features of the organs were studied.Results:Bacterial translocation and endotoxemia were observed in all animals with acute spinal cord injury. Sacral nerve stimulation increased defecation, decreased endotoxin levels and bacterial translocation and improved the morphology of the organs.Conclusion:After acute spinal cord injury, stimulation of the sacral nerve reduced gut bacterial translocation and endotoxemia.Spinal Cord advance online publication, 6 April 2010; doi:10.1038/sc.2010.35.

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