Humane Non-Human Primate Model of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury Utilizing Electromyography as a Measure of Impairment and Recovery

The overall goal of this project is to develop a humane non-human primate model of traumatic spinal cord injury that will facilitate the development and evaluation of therapeutic interventions. The model utilizes neurophysiological techniques to identify the location of the upper motor neuron axons that innervate the lower motor neurons that control tail musculature. This facilitates the placement of a selective lesion that partially disconnects the upper and lower motor neuron supply to the musculature of the tail. An implanted transmitter quantitatively measures electromyography data from the tail. The preliminary data indicates that this model is feasible. The subject was able to tolerate the implantation of the transmitter, without adverse effects. As well, there was no limb impairment, bowel dysfunction or bladder dysfunction. The histopathologic and electromyographic features of the selective experimental lesion were similar to human spinal cord injury.