Long-Distance Axon Regeneration Promotes Recovery of Diaphragmatic Respiratory Function after Spinal Cord Injury

Cervical spinal cord injuries often lead to breathing difficulties because the nerve signals controlling the diaphragm are disrupted. This study explored whether stimulating nerve regeneration could restore diaphragm function in rats with spinal cord injuries. The researchers used a peptide (PAP4) to block a protein (PTEN) that inhibits nerve growth. They administered this peptide systemically to rats with cervical spinal cord injuries. The study found that PAP4 promoted the regeneration of nerve fibers from the brainstem to the spinal cord, reconnection with motor neurons controlling the diaphragm, and improved breathing function.

• 1
  Systemic administration of PAP4 promoted significant functional recovery of diaphragmatic respiratory function after cervical SCI.
• 2
  PAP4 induced robust long-distance regeneration of ipsilateral rVRG axons into the lesion, through the caudal lesion-intact interface and back to the PhMNs.
• 3
  Regenerating rVRG axons formed putative synaptic connections with PhMNs.