RhoA Inhibitor Treatment At Acute Phase of Spinal Cord Injury May Induce Neurite Outgrowth and Synaptogenesis

This study investigates the potential of RhoA inhibitors (RhoAi) to promote nerve regeneration and synapse formation after spinal cord injury (SCI). The research uses both in vitro (cell culture) and in vivo (rat model) experiments to understand how RhoAi affects nerve cells and their ability to regrow after injury. The researchers used a neuroproteomic approach to analyze the molecular changes in nerve cells treated with RhoAi. This involves identifying and quantifying the proteins present in the cells to understand how RhoAi influences various cellular processes related to regeneration. In a rat SCI model, RhoAi was administered locally using a scaffold. The study examined the impact of this treatment on the rats' recovery of movement and the formation of new synaptic connections in the injured spinal cord segments.

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  RhoAi treatment stimulates neurite outgrowth in both in vitro and in vivo environments, suggesting its potential to promote nerve regeneration after SCI.
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  In vivo experiments revealed that RhoAi treatment, combined with FK506 delivery, improved locomotion recovery only at early post-injury time points.
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  A dramatic increase of synaptic contacts on outgrowing neurites in affected segments was observed after RhoAi treatment, indicating enhanced synaptogenesis.