Figure 2.

Histopathological changes of the spinal cord at 8 weeks post-trauma (hematoxylin-eosin staining, × 20).

Vertical cross-sections were taken from the injured site (+0 mm), and 3 and 5 mm rostral (+) and caudal (–) to the epicenter. Eight weeks after injury, the SCI, MP + MTX and MP groups had different degrees of tissue loss and cyst occurrence, and there was a tendency of damage to spread to the adjacent area. After MP + MTX combination therapy, fibrous scar formation was present at the lesion; total glial cell proliferation, tissue voids, and cyst area were significantly less compared with the use of MP or MTX alone (as indicated by the arrow). MP: Methylprednisolone; MTX: methotrexate; SCI: spinal cord injury.