Effect of spinal cord compression on cyclic 3 ',5 '-guanosine monophosphate in the white matter columns of rabbit

Changes in the level of cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were st udied one day after a surgically induced spinal cord constriction performed at the Th7 segment level in the dorsal, lateral and ventral white matter c olumns and in the non-compartmentalized white matter of Th5-Th6 segments, i .e., above the site of the spinal cord constriction and in Th8-Th9 segments , located below the spinal cord constriction. The midthoracic spinal cord c onstriction caused a significant decrease in the level of cGMP in the ventr al column of Th5-Th6 segments and a significant increase in the lateral col umn of Th8-Th9 segments, The level of cGMP in the dorsal column, located ei ther rostrally or caudally to the site of the spinal cord injury, remained unchanged. In addition, no significant changes in the level of cGMP were fo und in the non-compartmentalized white matter of Th5-Th6 and Th8-Th9 segmen ts in response to constriction of the Th7 segment. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd. All rights reserved.