Axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in the experimental tethered spinal cord.

There has been experimental evidence of the tethered cord syndrome being a gray matter disease resulting from excessive tensile force in the lumbosacral cord. Clinical findings also support this concept. This study was designed to elucidate the possibility of the involvement of the long tract in tethered cord. Long tract continuity was evaluated utilizing the retrograde axonal transport of horseradish peroxidase in fasciculus gracilis. There were no significant differences between the normal and experimental tethered cord in the number of labeled dorsal root ganglion cells of the lumbosacral cord. From this we conclude that involvement of the long sensory tract during steady state of severe cord traction at best is minimal. This study supports the hypothesis that tethered cord syndrome primarily is a gray matter disorder.