Human spinal cord tissue is an underutilised resource in degenerative cervical myelopathy: findings from a systematic review of human autopsies
Human spinal cord tissue is an underutilised resource in degenerative cervical myelopathy: findings from a systematic review of human autopsies
Study design: systematic review.
Background: although degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most prevalent spinal cord condition worldwide, the pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate existing histological findings of DCM on cadaveric human spinal cord tissue and explore their consistency with animal models.
Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched (CRD42021281462) for primary research reporting on histological findings of DCM in human cadaveric spinal cord tissue. Data was extracted using a piloted proforma. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Findings were compared to a systematic review of animal models (Ahkter et al. 2020 Front Neurosci 14).
Results: the search yielded 4127 unique records. After abstract and full-text screening, 19 were included in the final analysis, reporting on 150 autopsies (71% male) with an average age at death of 67.3 years. All findings were based on haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The most commonly reported grey matter findings included neuronal loss and cavity formation. The most commonly reported white matter finding was demyelination. Axon loss, gliosis, necrosis and Schwann cell proliferation were also reported. Findings were consistent amongst cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Cavitation was notably more prevalent in human autopsies compared to animal models.
Conclusion: few human spinal cord tissue studies have been performed. Neuronal loss, demyelination and cavitation were common findings. Investigating the biological basis of DCM is a critical research priority. Human spinal cord specimen may be an underutilised but complimentary approach.
1121-1131
Dohle, Esmee
6c2b6d2a-ecbc-4b91-ba0c-61ea34409fae
Beardall, Sophie
803235c7-c4d6-4f9c-adc9-9ac0bb08e165
Chang, Aina
56087c02-4040-4069-9949-64291c116ab3
Mena, Karla P. Corral
b84a3d0b-5e76-4971-8eb2-5811e9925491
Jovanović, Luka
53b696a2-7000-488a-b5b9-2a1a1b1c7efc
Nath, Upamanyu
17e6459d-c552-408f-ab7e-20db64d2e843
Lee, Keng Siang
a0124452-d921-4c57-a56e-719b1fbfcc37
Smith, Alexandria H.
c666d04b-f95d-4118-9572-4a4ab4f95b85
Thirunavukarasu, Arun J.
a9704a2b-43ea-431f-9e5d-330066b9e8e2
Touzet, Alvaro Yanez
0160a4ee-ff1b-4709-9d4d-1c7d23cbaa4d
Norton, Emma
76746af3-fcfc-40cb-aa84-c8da09c830db
Mowforth, Oliver D.
cba590f8-affa-4f88-8faa-8174ccf0b844
Kotter, Mark R.N.
ad68c956-9770-4719-8569-d28e185c50f1
Davies, Benjamin M.
1dfd3b6e-fe1c-41b7-9963-9cd92958160e
23 February 2023
Dohle, Esmee
6c2b6d2a-ecbc-4b91-ba0c-61ea34409fae
Beardall, Sophie
803235c7-c4d6-4f9c-adc9-9ac0bb08e165
Chang, Aina
56087c02-4040-4069-9949-64291c116ab3
Mena, Karla P. Corral
b84a3d0b-5e76-4971-8eb2-5811e9925491
Jovanović, Luka
53b696a2-7000-488a-b5b9-2a1a1b1c7efc
Nath, Upamanyu
17e6459d-c552-408f-ab7e-20db64d2e843
Lee, Keng Siang
a0124452-d921-4c57-a56e-719b1fbfcc37
Smith, Alexandria H.
c666d04b-f95d-4118-9572-4a4ab4f95b85
Thirunavukarasu, Arun J.
a9704a2b-43ea-431f-9e5d-330066b9e8e2
Touzet, Alvaro Yanez
0160a4ee-ff1b-4709-9d4d-1c7d23cbaa4d
Norton, Emma
76746af3-fcfc-40cb-aa84-c8da09c830db
Mowforth, Oliver D.
cba590f8-affa-4f88-8faa-8174ccf0b844
Kotter, Mark R.N.
ad68c956-9770-4719-8569-d28e185c50f1
Davies, Benjamin M.
1dfd3b6e-fe1c-41b7-9963-9cd92958160e
Dohle, Esmee, Beardall, Sophie, Chang, Aina, Mena, Karla P. Corral, Jovanović, Luka, Nath, Upamanyu, Lee, Keng Siang, Smith, Alexandria H., Thirunavukarasu, Arun J., Touzet, Alvaro Yanez, Norton, Emma, Mowforth, Oliver D., Kotter, Mark R.N. and Davies, Benjamin M.
(2023)
Human spinal cord tissue is an underutilised resource in degenerative cervical myelopathy: findings from a systematic review of human autopsies.
Acta Neurochirurgica, 165, .
(doi:10.1007/s00701-023-05526-5).
Abstract
Study design: systematic review.
Background: although degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most prevalent spinal cord condition worldwide, the pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Our objective was to evaluate existing histological findings of DCM on cadaveric human spinal cord tissue and explore their consistency with animal models.
Methods: MEDLINE and Embase were systematically searched (CRD42021281462) for primary research reporting on histological findings of DCM in human cadaveric spinal cord tissue. Data was extracted using a piloted proforma. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Findings were compared to a systematic review of animal models (Ahkter et al. 2020 Front Neurosci 14).
Results: the search yielded 4127 unique records. After abstract and full-text screening, 19 were included in the final analysis, reporting on 150 autopsies (71% male) with an average age at death of 67.3 years. All findings were based on haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. The most commonly reported grey matter findings included neuronal loss and cavity formation. The most commonly reported white matter finding was demyelination. Axon loss, gliosis, necrosis and Schwann cell proliferation were also reported. Findings were consistent amongst cervical spondylotic myelopathy and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. Cavitation was notably more prevalent in human autopsies compared to animal models.
Conclusion: few human spinal cord tissue studies have been performed. Neuronal loss, demyelination and cavitation were common findings. Investigating the biological basis of DCM is a critical research priority. Human spinal cord specimen may be an underutilised but complimentary approach.
Text
s00701-023-05526-5
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 6 February 2023
Published date: 23 February 2023
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 499371
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/499371
ISSN: 0001-6268
PURE UUID: a22c9488-68d2-43d7-abf7-1c29ec21cc5f
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 18 Mar 2025 17:37
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:44
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Esmee Dohle
Author:
Sophie Beardall
Author:
Aina Chang
Author:
Karla P. Corral Mena
Author:
Luka Jovanović
Author:
Upamanyu Nath
Author:
Keng Siang Lee
Author:
Alexandria H. Smith
Author:
Arun J. Thirunavukarasu
Author:
Alvaro Yanez Touzet
Author:
Emma Norton
Author:
Oliver D. Mowforth
Author:
Mark R.N. Kotter
Author:
Benjamin M. Davies
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics