Effect of lesion proximity on the regenerative response of long descending propriospinal neurons after spinal transection injury

The spinal cord has a limited ability to repair itself after injury. However, propriospinal (PS) neurons have shown some capacity for axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury, regrowing and re-establishing connections across a spinal lesion. This study examines how the distance of the injury from the cell body of long descending propriospinal tract (LDPT) neurons affects their molecular response to injury, comparing it to the response of short thoracic propriospinal (TPS) neurons. The location of axonal injury relative to the neuron's cell body significantly impacts its regenerative response. The study suggests inherent differences between LDPT and TPS neurons affect their response to axotomy, implying different therapies may be needed to maximize regeneration of all PS axons after spinal cord injury.

• 1
  Axonal injury closer to LDPT neuron cell bodies resulted in a different gene expression response compared to injury further away. This response was less robust than that observed in TPS neurons after proximal axotomy.
• 2
  The location of axotomy relative to the neuronal cell body is an important determinant for changes elicited in gene expression.
• 3
  Phenotypic differences exist between TPS and LDPT neurons. There are significant differences in baseline expression between the LDPT and TPS neurons