Vascular change in the spinal cord after impact injury in the rat.

The vascular changes during the transient paraparesis after experimental spinal cord injury in rats have been studied. The artificial movement of the exogenous protein tracer horseradish peroxidase caused by traumatic mechanical pressure was determined 5 minutes after impact injury. A disturbance of terminal microcirculation and extensive dilatation of the vasculature in the traumatized area were observed 5 days after impact injury. Some reasons for the latter effects are discussed.