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Review
. 2025 May 26:42:102063.
doi: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102063. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Spinal cord injury models: Advantages and disadvantages in the view of pathophysiology and clinical significance

Min-Qi Li  1   2   3 , Qing-Hua Wang  1   2   3 , Chuan-Ming Dong  1 , Long-Ju Qi  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Spinal cord injury models: Advantages and disadvantages in the view of pathophysiology and clinical significance

Min-Qi Li et al. Biochem Biophys Rep. .

Abstract

Over recent decades, SCI research has advanced in understanding its pathophysiology and related mechanisms. Researchers developed many rodent SCI models to mimic injury processes, which are crucial for evaluating therapies and understanding pathology. But choosing the right model for specific research is challenging due to distinct pathological changes. This review overviews SCI pathophysiology and examines rodent models. It emphasizes model - related challenges, application value, simulation degrees, and replication of pathologies. It also discusses model advantages and limitations, and references recent reverse-engineering projects, which provide a brand-new perspective for promoting SCI research.

Keywords: Animal models; Contusion models; Pathophysiology; Spinal cord injury; Transection models.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Pathophysiological events according to Spinal cord injury (SCI). Demonstration of different phases and sub-classification of secondary phase.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Two main forms of cell death after spinal cord injury.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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