Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41950008›Full record

ArticleSTAR protocols2026

Protocol for performing traumatic spinal cord injury surgery on mice in germ-free isolators and assessing injury recovery and pathophysiology.

Katherine A Mifflin, Kristina A Kigerl, Lori C Hudson, Zhen Guan, Phillip G Popovich

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in STAR protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Katherine A MifflinDepartment of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Kristina A KigerlDepartment of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: kristina.kigerl@osumc.edu.
Lori C HudsonDepartment of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: lori.hudson@osumc.edu.
Zhen GuanDepartment of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Phillip G PopovichDepartment of Neuroscience, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Belford Center for Spinal Cord Injury, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Electronic address: phillip.popovich@osumc.edu.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

An altered gut microbiome affects recovery from traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Here, we present a protocol for performing SCI survival surgery on mice in germ-free isolators. Specifically, we describe steps for colonization, preparing surgical tools, performing surgery, and post-surgical care. We then outline procedures for behavioral assessment, followed by collecting and processing tissue to assess injury recovery and pathophysiology. This protocol can be easily adapted to study the gut microbiome's influence on other forms of central nervous system injury.

Indexed as

Spinal Cord InjuriesAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalGastrointestinal MicrobiomeGerm-Free LifeMiceRecovery of FunctionImmunologyMicrobiologyModel OrganismsNeuroscience

Identifiers

PMID41950008
PMCPMC13091045

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.