Eﬀects of Rehabilitation on Perineural Nets and Synaptic Plasticity Following Spinal Cord Transection

Brain Sciences, 2020 · DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110824 · Published: November 6, 2020

Spinal Cord Injury Genetics Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how epidural electrical stimulation (ES) and locomotor training impact the expression of certain molecules (CSPG), structures around nerve cells (PNN), and the flexibility of connections between nerve cells (synaptic plasticity) in spinal motoneurons after complete spinal cord injury in rats. The study found that the total amount of CSPG expression increased over time after the injury, regardless of training. Interestingly, a specific type of motoneuron (γ-motoneurons) did not show PNNs, while another type (α-motoneurons) did. The study concludes that modulating the activity of γ-motoneurons is an important mechanism for the recovery induced by locomotor training under ES after a complete spinal transection.

Study Duration

67 days

Participants

Adult female Sprague–Dawley rats (250 g)

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
The total amount of CSPG expression significantly increased with time after spinal cord injury, but locomotor training did not affect CSPG expression.
2
γ-motoneurons did not express PNNs, whereas α-motoneurons demonstrated well-deﬁned PNNs.
3
Synaptic changes were more prominent in γ-motoneurons compared to α-motoneurons, suggesting a greater extent of synaptic remodeling in γ-motoneurons.

Research Summary

This study examined the effects of epidural stimulation (ES) and locomotor training on plasticity-related molecules and synaptic changes in spinal motoneurons following complete spinal transection in rats. The study found that CSPG expression increased with time after injury, γ-motoneurons lacked PNNs, and synaptic remodeling was more pronounced in γ-motoneurons. The findings suggest that modulation of γ-motoneuron activity is an important mechanism associated with functional recovery induced by locomotor training under ES after complete spinal transection.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Facilitating synaptic plasticity by manipulating CSPG and PNN expression after an injury may improve the eﬀects of rehabilitation on the functional recovery.

Clinical Intervention Strategies

Designing clinical intervention strategies aimed at enhancing plasticity within the spinal cord should be undertaken with the aim to make appropriate useful reconnections.

Combinatorial Interventions

When combining ChABC and locomotor-enhancing rehabilitation, such considerations should also be explored.

Study Limitations

1
The interaction between the rehabilitation modality and the severity of an injury remains unclear.
2
A complete lack of descending and/or ascending connections within the lumbar cord may have played a role in the absence of such diﬀerences between trained and non-trained groups.
3
It is plausible that 30 min of activity per day were not suﬃcient to cause statistically signiﬁcant increases in expression of CSPGs.

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