Virginia Via Research Day Book 2026

Medical Student Research Biomedical

13 BLAST-INDUCED SPINAL CORD INJURY: A CROSS-MODEL COMPARISON OF BEHAVIORAL AND CELLULAR RESPONSES

Madeleine Sifford, OMS-II; Kelly C. S. Roballo, DVM, PhD; Carly Norris, PhD (1); Susan Murphy, PhD (1); Pamela VandeVord, PhD (1) Corresponding author: msifford@vcom.edu

VCOM-Virginia, Blacksburg, Virginia

two of the following experimental methods: Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scores, open field activity, von Frey sensitivity, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression, or ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) staining. Key outcome measures will be obtained to create a cross-model comparison. Data will be visualized in grouped plots to evaluate similarities or differences in locomotor recovery, pain sensitivity, and glial activation across mechanisms. Results: Analysis and data extraction is ongoing. Preliminary review has indicated that the bSCI model displays similar behavioral responses to other SCI models. The bSCI model demonstrated BBB scores ranging from 17–18 at 48 and 72 hours post-injury (Valenti et al., 2024), compared to the IH impactor model, which gave an average score of approximately 19 during the same time frame (Jin et al., 2015). It is our prediction that the bSCI model will produce comparable subject responses and thus may better reflect non-invasive mechanisms of injury in an experimental setting. Conclusions: Early findings suggest that the blast-induced SCI model may represent a distinct injury pattern compared with common mechanical SCI paradigms. This model may fill an important gap in

preclinical research by simulating closed spinal trauma relevant to military blast exposure and potentially to mild SCI in the general population. Completion of the comparative analysis will clarify its translational utility and guide future therapeutic investigations. IRB Statement: Not applicable. This project uses previously published data and does not involve human or new animal subjects. Valenti D, Norris C, Yuan M, Luke B, Thomas R, Thomas J, Murphy S, VandeVord P, Roballo KCS. Alterations in Endogenous Stem Cell Populations in the Acute Phase of Blast-Induced Spinal Cord Injury. J Integr Neurosci. 2024 Oct 14;23(10):192. doi: 10.31083/j.jin2310192. PMID: 39473160. Jin Y, Bouyer J, Haas C, Fischer I. Evaluation of the anatomical and functional consequences of repetitive mild cervical contusion using a model of spinal concussion. Exp Neurol. 2015 Sep;271:175-88. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.06.001. Epub 2015 Jun 10. PMID: 26070306; PMCID: PMC4586991.

Context: Spinal cord injury (SCI) remains a major cause of long-term disability, yet most preclinical models rely on invasive mechanical injury methods, such as weight-drop impactors or compression devices, that do not fully replicate the non-penetrating injuries frequently experienced by military personnel. A novel blast-induced SCI model produces behavioral deficits and glial responses without direct mechanical penetration of the spinal cord. Understanding how this new method compares to traditional SCI models is essential for identifying its translational relevance and potential utility in modeling non-invasive injuries. Objective/Hypothesis: To compare behavioral outcomes and cellular markers of injury from the blast induced SCI model to those reported in studies using established mechanical SCI methods. We hypothesize that the blast model produces results that closely mimic mild, clinically relevant, spinal cord injury patterns observed in both military and civilian populations. Methods: A targeted literature search was performed using PubMed to identify studies employing weight drop, screw compression, graded forceps compression, or balloon compression SCI models that examined the same variables utilized in the blast-induced model. Inclusion criteria required rodent subjects and at least

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