Measurement of spinal cord weight and area.

<p><b>A</b>) Weights (mg) of 10 mm spinal cord segments centred on the injury site. There was a significant reduction in weight compared to sham controls at 4 and 10 weeks after injury (<i>p<</i>0.001, ***). In injured animals, there was a significant decrease in weight between 4 days and 4 weeks after injury (<i>p<</i>0.01, **), but no further weight loss between 4 and 10 weeks after injury. Data are mean ± SEM, n = 6 for each group. <b>B</b>) Areas of spinal cord measured in H&E stained serial sections from 5 mm rostral to 5 mm caudal of the centre of the injury site at 24 hours, 4 days, 4 weeks and 10 weeks after injury. There was little difference in spinal cord area between 24 hours and 4 days, but a large reduction in area between 4 days and 4 weeks. There were no further reductions in area between 4 weeks and 10 weeks after injury. Data are mean ± SEM, n = 6 for each group.