Behavioral effects of spinal cord transection in the developing rat

Weber, Eric; Stelzner, Dennis J.

doi:10.1016/0006-8993(77)90618-7

Cited by 122 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Some of our observations indicated that the spinal cord transected in newborns can accomplish aspects of locomotor function that in normal adult rats depend on descending systems. For example, we observed, as have others (Weber and Stelzner, 1977), that spinalized newborn rats may develop hindquarter support that permits overground locomotion in the open field. The mechanism by which some adults spinalized as neonates develop this performance without descending input is unknown.…”

Section: Spinal Ratssupporting

confidence: 81%

“…The locomotor performance of neonatal spinal rats given transplants (Iwashita et al, 1994) also seems to exceed that in spinal rats (Stelzner et al, 1975;Weber and Stelzner, 1977). Mechanisms by which transplants mediate development of coordinated locomotion include providing an environment that supports growth of axotomized and latedeveloping axons (Bregman and Kunkel-Bagden, 1988;Howland et al, 1995c) and rescue of neurons destined to undergo retrograde cell death (Bregman and Reier, 1986;Himes et al, 1994;Mori et al, 1997).…”

Section: Keys Words: Spinal Transection; Fetal Transplants; Recovery mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The evaluation of development or recovery after spinal cord injury has usually involved either spontaneous behavior (Weber and Stelzner, 1977;Iwashita et al, 1994) or noncomplex motivated locomotor tasks (Kunkel-Bagden et al, 1993). Analysis of spontaneous behaviors such as locomotion on grids and inclined planes and in the open field can document recovery yet may provide only limited insight into the mechanisms responsible.…”

Section: Keys Words: Spinal Transection; Fetal Transplants; Recovery mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fetal Transplants Alter the Development of Function after Spinal Cord Transection in Newborn Rats

et al. 1997

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Pieces of fetal spinal tissue were transplanted into the site of complete midthoracic spinal transections in neonatal rat pups (transplant rats). The development of locomotion in these animals was compared with that of unoperated control rats and rats that received spinal transections alone (spinal rats). Reflex, treadmill and overground locomotion, staircase descent, and horizontal ladder crossing for a water reward were tested in control, spinal, and transplant rats from 3 weeks to adulthood. All tests were readily performed by control animals. Most spinal rats were unable to make many linked weight-supported steps on these tasks. Transplant rats were variable in their locomotor capabilities, but a subset of rats were able to demonstrate coordinated and adaptable locomotion on these tasks. Some transplant rats performed better on more challenging tasks, suggesting that motor strategies for these tasks used different information, perhaps from descending systems. Transplanted tissue survived, and in most cases there was immunocytochemical staining of serotonergic fibers passing into and caudal to the transplant, supporting the conclusion that descending systems grew through the transplanted tissue. Integration with the host tissue was often poor, suggesting that nonspecific or trophic effects of the transplant might also contribute to the development of locomotor function. Therefore several mechanisms may contribute to the repair of injured spinal cord provided by transplants that permit the development of useful locomotion.

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Section: Spinal Ratssupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Keys Words: Spinal Transection; Fetal Transplants; Recovery mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Keys Words: Spinal Transection; Fetal Transplants; Recovery mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fetal Transplants Alter the Development of Function after Spinal Cord Transection in Newborn Rats

et al. 1997

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“…Several investigators have pointed out that functional restoration of the spinal cord isolated from the higher central nervous system depends upon the age of the animal at the time of transection (Shurrager and Weber and Stelzner (1977) examined the effects of spinal transection on the development of locomotive behavior in neonatal and weanling rats. They concluded that locomotive movements were not possible in weanling rats, while the locomotive maturation of the hindlimbs in the neonatally transected rats resembled the ontogeny of locomotion in the normal rats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional recovery of locomotive behavior in the adult spinal dog.

Handa

Naito

Watanabe

et al. 1986

Tohoku J. Exp. Med.

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Complete transection of the midthoracic spinal cord was performed on adult female dogs. Development of reflexes and locomotive movements in the hindlimbs after spinal transection was investigated over several months. In the earlier stages after the surgery, dogs showed flaccid paralysis of the hindlimbs. Within several weeks, muscle tone of the hindlimbs was gradually increased accompanied by development of flexion reflex with after-discharge in addition to monosynaptic reflexes. Alternating stepping movement also began to develop. Afterward, extensor thrust and crossed extension reflex were observed. Standing behavior of the hindlimbs was found after enough development of the extensor thrust and correct placement of the pads of the toes. Steady development of stepping and standing caused forward locomotion using fore-and hindlimbs. This walking behavior of the hindlimbs was never inhibited by additional spinal cord transection. These findings indicate that the isolated spinal cord caudal to the transected site is responsible for the locomotive behavior of the hindlimbs in adult spinal dogs. Spinal automatism and development of responses induced by afferent inflow from outside the cord may help to explain such functional recovery of the paralyzed hindlimbs.

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“…However, movements of the legs occurred later (cf. Weber & Stelzner, 1977). In one preparation examined in such an animal about 84 % of the fibres were singly innervated 13 days after the cordotomy.…”

Section: Selective Eliminationmentioning

confidence: 98%

selective elimination of motor nerve terminals in the rat soleus muscle during development.

Miyata¹,

Yoshioka²

1980

The Journal of Physiology

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SUMMARY1. The pattern of innervation and either frequency of miniature end-plate potentials (m.e.p.p.s) or acetylcholine (ACh) sensitivity was examined in individual fibres of the soleus muscle in new-born rats to elucidate the mechanism of elimination of motor nerve terminals.2. The number of motor nerve terminals innervating a muscle fibre was judged by the difference in latencies of end-plate potentials evoked by stimulation of the ventral roots L4 and L5.3. At early developmental stages, about 50 % of soleus muscle fibres were usually singly innervated by the L5 ventral root and this nerve to fibre relation did not change throughout the developmental days. In contrast to the L5 root, the L4 root innervated all the muscle fibres polyneuronally at day 6. In day 16 or older animals, the remaining half of the fibres were singly innervated by the L4 ventral nerves. Therefore, it is concluded that the elimination of motor nerve terminals in the soleus muscle occurs selectively only for the L4 ventral nerves.4. The number of polyneuronally innervated fibres was increased, to some extent, within 2 days after transaction of the spinal cord at day 12. It is suggested that the increased polyneuronal innervation following the inactivity produced by cordotomy may reflect the recovery of terminals which had lost function only a short time previously during elimination.5. Though frequency of m.e.p.p.s increased from day 6 to adult age as previously reported, there was no significant difference in the frequencies between singly and polyneuronally innervated fibres at any age. Cord transaction at day 12 caused no change in the frequency.6. ACh sensitivity observed in singly innervated fibres was similar to that in polyneuronally innervated fibres. Furthermore, cordotomy on day 12 did not induce an increase in ACh sensitivity around the end-plate. It is concluded that the elimination of terminals is not causally related to changes in ACh sensitivity.7. The possible mechanisms of selective elimination of terminals and the process of elimination are discussed.

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Behavioral effects of spinal cord transection in the developing rat

Cited by 122 publications

References 29 publications

Fetal Transplants Alter the Development of Function after Spinal Cord Transection in Newborn Rats

Fetal Transplants Alter the Development of Function after Spinal Cord Transection in Newborn Rats

Functional recovery of locomotive behavior in the adult spinal dog.

selective elimination of motor nerve terminals in the rat soleus muscle during development.

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