Utility of somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials in reflecting gross and fine motor functions after unilateral cervical spinal cord contusion injury

Neural Regen Res, 2021 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.301486 · Published: July 1, 2021

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how sensory and motor pathways communicate during recovery from spinal cord injury (SCI) and their role in fine motor skills. A rat model with cervical SCI was used, with mild and severe injury groups. Electrophysiological recordings and behavioral tests were conducted to assess motor function recovery. The researchers found that somatosensory-evoked potentials (SEPs) and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were reduced after SCI, but improved over time. Rats with mild SCI showed greater and faster recovery of SEPs and MEPs compared to those with severe SCI. Motor function also improved, with better outcomes in the mild SCI group. The study concludes that changes in SEPs and MEPs can reflect changes in gross and fine motor functions after mild SCI. Furthermore, SEP amplitude can also reflect changes in fine motor function after severe SCI, suggesting the importance of sensory pathways in motor recovery.

Study Duration

12 weeks

Participants

32 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Somatosensory and motor-evoked potential amplitudes decreased and latencies increased after spinal cord contusion injury.
2
Recovery times of somatosensory and motor-evoked potential amplitudes and latencies were longer, and motor function recovery was delayed in rats with severe spinal cord injury compared to mild injury.
3
Changes in both somatosensory and motor-evoked potentials reflected changes in gross and fine motor functions after mild spinal cord contusion injury.

Research Summary

The study systematically analyzed clinical neurological functions, combined with examination of SEP and MEP, ranging from gross to fine motor skills in a rat model of SCI. Rats with severe SCI showed significant MEP recovery, but lower SEP recovery, and while these animals had the ability to execute basic motor tasks, their fine motor skills remained substantially impaired. The restoration of sensory signaling pathways in the spinal cord resulted in a better recovery of fine motor function than of gross motor function.

Practical Implications

Rehabilitation Strategies

Rehabilitative interventions should address sensory functions and sensorimotor control to maximize motor recovery after SCI.

Prognostic Indicator

SEP amplitude could be a potential indicator of fine motor function in severe spinal cord injury.

Therapeutic Targets

Targeting the ascending sensory pathway could have a greater impact on the spontaneous recovery of deprived fine motor skills than gross motor function in the forelimbs after SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Only general histological changes were observed; quantitative histological evaluation is needed.
2
Collateral sprouting in single pathways cannot be independently determined from histological findings.
3
Further functional magnetic resonance imaging and neuroanatomical imaging studies are needed to clarify compensatory mechanisms.

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