• Tetsuya Yoshizumi, Hidetoshi Murata, Shinji Yamamoto, Ryu Kurokawa, Phyo Kim, and Nobutaka Kawahara.
• *Department of Neurosurgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan †Department of Neurologic Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University Hospital, Tochighi, Japan.
• Spine. 2016 Dec 1; 41 (23): E1380-E1387.

Study DesignBasic animal research.ObjectiveThe effects of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were assessed in a rat chronic spinal cord compression model to explore the potential of G-CSF as a pharmacological treatment for cervical spondylotic myelopathy.Summary Of Background DataG-CSF is a hematopoietic cytokine used clinically to treat neutropenia. Recently, neuroprotective effects of G-CSF have been reported in spinal cord disorders.MethodsTo introduce the chronic cervical cord compression, thin polyurethane sheets were implanted under C5-C6 laminae of rats and gradually expanded by absorbing water. This model reproduces delayed compressive myelopathy of the cervical spine. In sham operations, the sheets were immediately removed. G-CSF (15 μg/kg) or normal saline (NS) was administered subcutaneously 5 days a week. Experimental groups were sham operation given NS; cord compression given NS; and cord compression given G-CSF. To assess motor functions, rotarod performance, and grip strength were measured. Twenty-six weeks after surgery, cervical spinal cords were examined histopathologically. In the prevention experiment, G-CSF or NS administration was started immediately after surgery. In the treatment experiment, their administration was started 8 weeks after surgery. In another experiment, in three groups in the prevention experiment, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling staining was performed to assess apoptotic cell death at 8 weeks after surgery.ResultsIn the prevention experiment, administration of G-CSF preserved the motor functions and motor neurons throughout the 26 weeks, and significantly decreased the number of apoptotic cells at 8 weeks. In the treatment experiment, G-CSF administration from 8 weeks after surgery markedly restored the motor function temporarily to a level equal to the sham group.ConclusionG-CSF prevents the decline in motor functions and preserves motor neurons in the rat chronic cord compression model. G-CSF also improves motor function in the progressive phase of compression myelopathy.Level Of EvidenceN/A.

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