NT3 treatment alters spinal cord injury‑induced changes in the gray matter volume of rhesus monkey cortex

Scientific Reports, 2022 · DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09981-5 · Published: April 1, 2022

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how spinal cord injury (SCI) affects the brain's structure and how a treatment using neurotrophin-3 (NT3) can influence these changes. Researchers used MRI to examine the brains and spinal cords of monkeys with SCI, some of whom received the NT3 treatment. The study aimed to compare the effects of spontaneous recovery after injury with the effects of NT3 treatment on brain structure, and to explore any connections between structural changes in the brain and spinal cord. The findings suggest that NT3 treatment has unique effects on brain structure, particularly in areas related to motor control and pain processing, and that there are correlations between brain and spinal cord structural alterations after SCI.

Study Duration

12 Months

Participants

8 adult female rhesus monkeys

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
NT3 treatment shows unique effects on brain structure, particularly in regions involved in motor control and neuropathic pain, such as the visual cortex, parietal lobule, and frontal gyri.
2
The structure of the insula, a brain region associated with pain processing, is significantly correlated with pain sensitivity in the monkeys.
3
Associations between brain and spinal cord structural alterations are observed in regions like the somatosensory cortex and superior frontal gyrus.

Research Summary

The study examines the effects of spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurotrophin-3 (NT3) treatment on brain structure in rhesus monkeys using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). NT3 treatment demonstrates unique effects on brain regions involved in motor control and neuropathic pain, and a protective effect on spinal cord structure. Significant correlations are found between structural alterations in the brain and spinal cord, suggesting potential for brain imaging to monitor spinal cord injury/repairment status.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic potential of NT3

NT3 treatment may mitigate brain structure changes induced by SCI, especially in areas controlling motor function and pain.

Biomarker development

Brain imaging could serve as a non-invasive tool to monitor spinal cord injury and the effectiveness of regenerative treatments.

Understanding SCI complications

The study provides insights into the secondary effects of SCI on the brain, particularly in relation to neuropathic pain.

Study Limitations

1
The research was based on a specific injury model in rhesus monkeys, which may not fully represent the complexity of human SCI.
2
The sample size was relatively small, potentially limiting the generalizability of the findings.
3
Only gray matter structure alterations were studied, neglecting potential changes in white matter.

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