An Experimental Model for Evaluating Pathological Changes in the Spinal Cord

An experimental Standard model for examining pathological changes in the lumbar nerve roots of rats is described. The evaluation is carried out by clinical, neurophysiological and morphological means. Spinal cord evoked potentials are used for the neurophysiological measurement while, at the same time MRI is done to assess morphology. These findings are correlated to the clinical Status gamed by the ramp method of Rivlin and Tator. After sacrifying the rats the lumbar spineisevaluatedby Standard histology. This combined method provides a reproducible »all around« description of lumbar nerve root pathology in the rat.