Functional recovery of locomotive behavior in the adult spinal dog.

Abstract

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.

Acquisition of Involuntary Spinal Locomotion (Spinal Walking) in Dogs with Irreversible Thoracolumbar Spinal Cord Lesion: 81 Dogs

“…Literature does not provide comparable data, except for experimental studies. In the eighties, it was demonstrated that adult dogs could develop SW gait after experimental mid‐thoracic spinal cord transection, disputing the earlier statements that functional recovery of locomotion in TL spinalized animals depended upon their very young age at the time of transection 22. A recent study on the outcome of paraplegic dogs without pain perception did not find any significant association with age 10.…”

“…In veterinary literature, SW is rarely described in dogs4, 20, 21, 22, 23 and most of studies report SW gait development in training cats experimentally spinalized 14, 15, 16, 19, 20…”

Recuperação funcional em cães com doença do disco intervertebral toracolombar sem percepção à dor profunda: 37 casos (2002-2010)

“…Neste estudo, dois cães (18% [2/11]) retornaram a deambular sem percepção da dor profunda e com sinais clínicos sugestivos de andar espinhal, pois apresentavam ataxia nos membros pélvicos, abano involuntário da cauda e incontinência urinária. Handa et al (1986) Olby et al (2003), 37% dos cães paraplégicos sem percepção da dor profunda, que tiveram retorno da função motora, permaneceram com incontinên-cia fecal ou urinária.…”

Analyses of airstepping movement in adult spinal dogs.

“…We reported that spontaneous walking of the hind limbs appeared after steady developments of airstepping in adult chronic spinal dogs (Handa et al 1986;Naito et al 1990). However, analyses of airstepping in the dogs have not been studied yet.…”

“…41 Forrsberg 1979 ; Smith et al 1986). We previously reported that adult dogs were able to gain spontaneous walking on the free ground using the hind limbs without support several months after the transection of the spinal cord (T9-10) (Handa et al 1986). From analyses of their locomotion on a treadmill in high-speed cinematography and electromyography (EMG), it was found that the pattern of movements of the hind limbs in these dogs was similar to that in normal dogs (Naito 1987;Naito et al 1990).…”