Skip to main content
Figure 4 | BMC Neurology

Figure 4

From: NG2 and phosphacan are present in the astroglial scar after human traumatic spinal cord injury

Figure 4

The typical morphological appearance of the lesion site in severe human macerating SCI. Schematic diagrams showing the typical transverse appearance of the lesion site in the present cases of severe human traumatic SCI. A: At survival times ranging from 2 to 24 days after SCI, the lesion epicentre was characterised by the complete destruction of the cytoarchitecture and a massive hemorrhagic infiltration into the parenchyma (extent of hemorrhage indicated by stars). B: At survival times of 4 months and longer after SCI, the lesion epicentre was characterised by numerous regenerated root-like structures (small arrows) of variable sizes embedded in a dense ECM. Furthermore, individual spinal nerve roots (large arrows) and the entry zone of a nerve root into the spinal cord (asterisk) could be seen. C: When no cysts were present in the intermediate zone, the lesion was largely divided into an astrocytic scar and the region with nerve root-like structures, including Schwann cells (small arrows). D: In the intermediate zone, the lesion could often be sub-divided into a centrally located cystic region surrounded by an astrocytic scar (in this case in the ventral region) and an area with numerous small-medium root-like structures embedded in the ECM of the connective tissue scar (small arrows, in this case in the dorsal region). These schematic diagrams were prepared from representative sections and have been presented to provide a broad indication of where, within sections, particular images have been taken.

Back to article page