Serum biomarkers for experimental acute spinal cord injury: rapid elevation of neuron-specific enolase and S-100beta.

Objective: We evaluated whether serum levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and S-100beta protein are biomarkers for traumatic injury in an animal model of spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay serum measurements of NSE and S-100beta and assays of serum protein were compared at 6 and 24 hours after a graded contusive SCI (150 or 200 kdyn IH impactor injury (Infinite Horizons, L.L.