A comparison of treadmill locomotion in adult cats before and after spinal transection

Abstract

1. The aim of this study was to document the kinematics and the electromyographic activity recorded from several muscles during treadmill locomotion in the same cat (N = 4), before and after spinalization by using a chronic implantation method. Because identical experimental and control conditions were used, it was possible to establish similarities and differences in the timing and amplitude of the muscular activity and kinematics under the intact and spinal conditions in the same animal. The data presented in this paper were collected when the cats had fully recuperated a stable locomotor pattern, walking at a constant speed of approximately 0.4 m/s. 2. The adult spinal cats retained many of the general locomotor features and electromyographic (EMG) characteristics seen before transection. However, there were also important differences. 3. There was a reduction in the step length that was principally due to the forward placement of the paw at the onset of the stance. Similarly, there was a decrease in the step cycle duration which was attributed to a reduction of both the stance and swing phases. 4. The overall angular excursions of the hip, knee, and ankle were generally similar, although joints were sometimes more flexed at all phases of the step cycle. In contrast, the overall excursions of the metatarsophalangeal joints was much greater in all four cats after spinalization due to a paw drag during the initial portion of the swing phase that exaggerated the plantarflexion. 5. There was an increase in the EMG amplitude of the flexor muscles at two of three joints (i.e., hip, knee, and ankle) in each cat after spinalization. The change in the EMG amplitude of the extensors did not appear to be as consistent as that observed in the flexor muscles. When looking at each cat individually, the postspinalization extensor activity decreased at two of three joints in two cats, whereas the opposite was true for the other two cats. 6. There was a delay in the onset of the knee flexor (semitendinosus) activity while the ankle dorsiflexor (tibialis anterior) activity started earlier with respect to the beginning of the swing phase. The onset of hip flexors was somewhat more variable. This change in the timing of flexor activity was most probably responsible for the paw drag at the onset of the swing phase. 7. The present results reveal that despite the few differences, the spinal cord and the hindlimbs afferents are capable of generating very good locomotor patterns with almost normal kinematics and EMG characteristics.

Prominent Role of the Spinal Central Pattern Generator in the Recovery of Locomotion after Partial Spinal Cord Injuries

“…For instance, there was a burst of activity in both Srt, a hip flexor/knee extensor, during stance that was not observed in the intact state. Such an activation of Srt during stance is commonly observed after a complete spinal transection during locomotion on a level surface (Bélanger et al, 1996). In addition the bursting activity of Srt bilaterally was slightly asymmetric, the flexor burst observed in the intact state remained on the right side, but was absent on the left side.…”

Spinal Cats on the Treadmill: Changes in Load Pathways

“…Before clonidine injection, rhythmic bursts of ENG activity were scarcely evoked by perineal stimulation Bélanger et al, 1996) in shams (two of seven cats) (Fig. 5a).…”

“…Previous studies first demonstrated this beneficial effect in adult spinal cats that have a remarkable capacity to recover locomotion (Lovely et al, 1986;Bélanger et al, 1996;De Leon et al, 1998). Moreover, clonidine, an ␣-2 noradrenergic agonist, improves and accelerates the recovery of stepping early after spinalization in cats (Forssberg and Grillner, 1973;Barbeau and Rossignol, 1991;Chau et al, 1998) and, when combined with treadmill training, improves walking patterns in SCI humans (Fung et al, 1990;Rémy-Néris et al, 1999).…”

Spinal shock revisited: a four-phase model

“…[125][126][127] In humans, gait training may promote synapse formation in the CPG. There is evidence in animals [125][126][127][128][129] and humans 120,[130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137] that such an approach is beneficial. It is also of interest that training is specific in that animals trained to stand eventually weight bear on the hindlimbs but do not step; likewise, step training produces the opposite effect.…”