Intramedullary Spinal Cord Glioma Following Microinjection of Glioblastoma Cell Line C6 in Rats

Background: This paper describes the establishment of a rat intramedullary spinal cord tumor (IMSCT) model and histopathological characterization of the tumor model. Methods: Fourteen male Wistar rats were randomized into two groups. The rats in group 1 (control group, n = 7) received a 5 μl intramedullary injection of serum physiologic (SF). Those in group 2 (experimental group, n= 7) received a 5 μl intramedullary implantation of media containing 5 × 105 C6 glioma cells. The animals were sacrificed for histopathological examination at 21 days. Results: The control group showed normal functional and histopathological findings. The group 2 rats implanted with C6 glioblastoma cells developed hind-limb paraplegia. Pathological sections confirmed intramedullary C6 glioblastoma invading the spinal cord. Conclusions: A rat C6 IMSCT model was successfully established. This model may be useful in increasing understanding of intramedullary spinal cord gliomas in humans.