After injury to the mammalian central nervous system (CNS), neurons are not able regenerate their axons and recovery is limited by restricted plasticity. Axon regeneration inhibited presence of various inhibitory molecules, including chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) which upregulated around site. Plasticity after end critical periods extracellular matrix changes, particularly formation CSPG-containing perineuronal nets. Enzymatic removal (CS) chains with chondroitinase ABC promotes...

Abstract We compared the neurological and electrophysiological outcome, glial reactivity, spared spinal cord connectivity promoted by acute transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (group OEC) or Schwann SC) after a mild injury to rat cord. Animals were subjected photochemical 2.5 min irradiation at T8 segment. After lesion, suspension containing 180,000 OECs SCs was injected. A control group DM) received vehicle alone. During 3 months postsurgery, behavioral skills assessed with open...

Elevating spinal levels of neurotrophin NT-3 (NT3) while increasing expression the NR2D subunit NMDA receptor using a HSV viral construct promotes formation novel multisynaptic projections from lateral white matter (LWM) axons to motoneurons in neonates. However, this treatment is ineffective after postnatal day 10. Because chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) restores plasticity adult CNS, we have added ChABC and applied combination rats receiving left hemisection (Hx) at T8. All hemisected animals...

Wallerian degeneration of the CNS is accompanied by axonal dystrophy or swelling. To understand mechanisms which swellings arise, we studied their spatiotemporal dynamics, ultrastructure, composition, and conditions that affect formation in vivo ex vivo. In contrast to peripheral nerve axons, lesioned optic (ON) axons developed focal asynchronously within 6 hours, long before there any axon fragmentation. Axons ON, spinal cord dorsal column, corpus callosum all showed marked gradients with...

Can lower limb motor function be improved after a spinal cord lesion by re-engaging functional activity of the upper limbs? We addressed this issue training forelimbs in conjunction with hindlimbs thoracic hemisection adult rats. The circuitries were more excitable, and behavioural electrophysiological analyses showed hindlimb when engaged simultaneously during treadmill step-training as opposed to only hindlimbs. Neuronal retrograde labelling demonstrated greater number propriospinal...

Chronic unilateral hemisection (HX) of the adult rat spinal cord diminishes conduction through intact fibers in ventrolateral funiculus (VLF) contralateral to HX. This is associated with a partial loss myelination from VLF (Arvanian et al., 2009). Here, we again measured using electrical stimulation while recording resulting volley and synaptic potentials target motoneurons. We found that intraspinal injection chondroitinase-ABC, known digest chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs),...

Abstract Background Epidural stimulation of the spinal cord can be used to enable stepping on a treadmill (electrical enabling motor control, eEmc) after complete mid-thoracic transection in adult rats. Herein we have studied effects eEmc using sub-threshold intensity combined with spontaneous load-bearing proprioception facilitate hindlimb and standing during daily cage activity paralyzed Methods We hypothesized that would greatly increase frequency level activation locomotor circuits...

(1) Background: Restoring arm and hand function is a priority for individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (cSCI) independence quality of life. Transcutaneous stimulation (tSCS) promotes the upper extremity (UE) motor when applied at region. The aim study was to determine effects tSCS, combined an exoskeleton, on strength functionality UE in subjects cSCI. (2) Methods: twenty-two participated randomized mix parallel-group crossover clinical trial, consisting intervention group (n = 15;...

Abstract We studied the effects of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) transplanted in a photochemical spinal cord injury adult rats. After dorsal laminectomy at T8 vertebra, subjacent was bathed with rose Bengal for 10 min and illuminated visible light by means an optic fiber connected to halogen lamp 2.5 maximal intensity 8 kLux. Eight injured rats received suspension OECs DMEM, another eight DMEM alone. Locomotor ability scored BBB scale, pain sensibility plantar algesimetry test, motor‐...

Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) into photochemically damaged rat spinal cord diminished astrocyte reactivity and parenchyma cavitation. The photochemical lesion performed at T12–L1 resulted in severe damage to the cord, so that during first 15 days postoperation all rats dragged their hindlimbs did not respond pinprick. maximal area volume cystic cavities were lower transplanted than non-transplanted rats, significantly site, but T9–T10 L4–L6 levels. density astrocytes...

Electrical enabling motor control (eEmc) through transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation is a non-invasive method that can modify the functional state of sensory-motor system. We hypothesize eEmc delivery, together with hand training, improves function in healthy subjects more than either intervention alone by inducing plastic changes at and cortical levels. Ten voluntary participants were included following three interventions: (i) grip (ii) eEmc, (iii) training. Functional evaluation box...

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) were transplanted in adult rats after photochemical injury of the spinal cord. Rats received either 180,000 OECs suspended DMEM or alone. Locomotor ability scored by BBB-scale, pain sensibility, and motor somatosensory evoked potentials evaluated during first 14 days post-surgery. At 3, 7, days, 5 per day both groups perfused transverse sections from proximal, lesioned distal cord blocks stained for COX-2, VEGF, GFAP lectin. The BBB-score amplitude...

We examined the efficacy of FK 506 in reducing tissue damage after spinal cord injury comparison to methylprednisolone (MP) treatment. Rats were subjected a photochemical (T8) and given bolus MP (30 mg/kg), (2 or saline. An additional group received an initial mg/kg) followed by daily injections (0.2 mg/kg intraperitoneally). Functional recovery was evaluated using open-field walking, inclined plane tests, motor evoked potentials (MEPs), H-reflex response during 14 days postoperation (dpo)....

We have applied transcranial electrical stimulation to rats with spinal cord injury and selectively tested the motor evoked potentials (MEPs) conveyed by descending pathways cortical subcortical origin. MEPs were elicited brain recorded on tibialis anterior muscles. Stimulation parameters characterized changes in MEP responses uninjured rats, mild or moderate contusion, animals complete transection of cord. All injuries located at T8 vertebral level. Two peaks, termed N1 N2, obtained when...

Electrical enabling motor control (eEmc) through transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation offers promise in improving hand function. However, it is still unknown which stimulus intensity or muscle force level could be better for this improvement. Nine healthy individuals received the following interventions: (i) eEmc intensities at 80%, 90% and 110% of abductor pollicis brevis threshold combined with training consisting 100% handgrip strength; (ii) 50% maximal strength intensity. The...

This study characterizes by functional and electrophysiological methods changes following photochemically induced injuries to the spinal cord in adult rats. The was exposed laminectomy bathed with 1.5% rose bengal solution for 10 min (T12–L1 vertebrae). excess dye removed saline rinse irradiated "cold" light 0, 1, 2.5, 5, different groups of During first 15 days postlesion, locomotion activity, pain sensibility, motor somatosensory evoked potentials, nerve action potentials were evaluated....

Transplantation of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) into the injured spinal cord has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects and promote functional recovery. In present study, we investigated potential modulatory OECs on inflammatory reaction developed after photochemical injury cord. OEC cultures were obtained from bulbs adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Photochemical was induced in rats at T8. Thirty minutes insult, either a suspension (180 000 12 µl DMEM) or DMEM alone injected lesioned At...