Non-assisted treadmill training does not improve motor recovery and body composition in spinal cord-transected mice

Abstract

Study design: Experiments in a mouse model of complete paraplegia. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of non-assisted treadmill training on motor recovery and body composition in completely spinal cord-transected mice. Settings: Laval University Medical Center, Neuroscience Unit, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Methods: Following a complete low-thoracic (Th9/10) spinal transection (Tx), mice were divided into two groups that were either untrained or trained with no assistance. Training consisted of placing the mice during 15 min with no further intervention (that is no tail pinching or body weight support) on a motorized treadmill (8-10 cm s À1 ) five times per week for 5 weeks. Locomotor performances were assessed weekly in both groups using two complementary locomotor rating scales. After 5 weeks, all mice were killed and adipose tissue, soleus, and extensor digitorum longus muscles were dissected for analyses. Results: No significant difference in locomotor performances or in muscle fibre type conversion was found between trained and untrained mice. In contrast, body weight, adipose tissue, whole muscle, and individual fibre cross-sectional area (CSA) values were significantly lower in trained compared with untrained animals. Conclusions: Non-assisted treadmill training in these conditions did not improve motor performances and contributed to further accentuate body composition changes post-Tx, suggesting that assistance provided manually, robotically, or pharmacologically may be key to spinal learning and recovery of locomotor function and body composition.

A Systematic Review of Exercise Training To Promote Locomotor Recovery in Animal Models of Spinal Cord Injury

“…Only 41% of complete and 63% of incomplete SCI studies reported randomization of animals into groups (Carvalho et al, 2008;Engesser-Cesar et al, 2005Erschbamer et al, 2006;Fischer and Peduzzi, 2007;Fong et al, 2005;Goldshmit et al, 2008;Ichiyama et al, 2009;Kuerzi et al, 2010;Lankhorst et al, 2001;Lee et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2008;Lovely et al, 1986;Maier et al, 2009;Nothias et al, 2005;Park et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2011, Smith et al, 1982Tillakaratne et al, 2010;Ung et al, 2010;Van Meeteren et al, 2003). Blinded outcome measures were undertaken in 29% of complete and 54% of incomplete SCI studies (Carvalho et al, 2008;Engesser-Cesar et al, 2007;Erschbamer et al, 2006;Foret et al, 2010;Fouad et al, 2000;Ichiyama et al, 2009;Kubasak et al, 2008;Kuerzi et al, 2010;Lankhorst et al, 2001;Maier et al, 2009;Multon et al, 2003;Oh et al, 2009;Park et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2011;Smith et al, 2006;Tillakaratne et al, 2010;Timoszyk et al, 2005, Zhang et al, 2007.…”

“…Blinded outcome measures were undertaken in 29% of complete and 54% of incomplete SCI studies (Carvalho et al, 2008;Engesser-Cesar et al, 2007;Erschbamer et al, 2006;Foret et al, 2010;Fouad et al, 2000;Ichiyama et al, 2009;Kubasak et al, 2008;Kuerzi et al, 2010;Lankhorst et al, 2001;Maier et al, 2009;Multon et al, 2003;Oh et al, 2009;Park et al, 2010;Singh et al, 2011;Smith et al, 2006;Tillakaratne et al, 2010;Timoszyk et al, 2005, Zhang et al, 2007. Histological analysis to confirm the extent of the lesion were performed in 76% of complete, but only 46% of incomplete SCI studies (Barriere et al, 2008;Boyce et al, 2007 Kuerzi et al, 2010;Lankhorst et al, 2001;Lee et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2008;Lovely et al, 1986;Maier et al, 2009;Moshonkina et al, 2002Moshonkina et al, , 2004Multon et al, 2003;Nothias et al, 2005;Park et al, 2010;Petruska et al, 2007;Singh et al, 2011;Smith et al, 1982Smith et al, ,2009Smith et al, ,2006Tillakaratne et al, 2010;Ung et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2007). The three studies (7%; …”

“…In 13 studies (76%) the animals were reported as adults, and in four studies (24%) neonates or young animals were used. Female animals were used in 13 studies (76%), whereas males were only used in one study (6%; Ung et al, 2010). In three studies (18%) the gender of the animals was not reported (Lovely et al, 1986;Smith et al, 1982;Timoszyk et al, 2005).…”

“…The most commonly used methods were: the BBB scale (56%), kinematic analysis (44%), and the grid walk test (17%). Sixteen studies (39%) only used functional scales (Carvalho et al, 2008;Engesser-Cesar et al, 2005;Fischer and Peduzzi, 2007;Foret et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2008;Moshonkina et al, 2002Moshonkina et al, ,2004Multon et al, 2003;Nothias et al, 2005;Park et al, 2010;Robert et al, 2010;Siegenthaler et al, 2008;Smith et al, 2006;Stevens et al, 2006;Ung et al, 2010;Zhang et al, 2007); importantly, these scales assess a specific aspect of locomotion or hindlimb movement, and depend on observation and interpretation. In the complete SCI studies, kinematic analysis was used in 55% of rat, 75% of cat, and 50% of mouse studies; the BBB scale was used in 36% of the rat studies.…”

Current Therapeutic Approaches in Spinal Cord Injury: Pharmacological, Rehabilitation, Cell-based, and Psychological Intervention

“…In a study by Fouad et al, 2000, no significant difference in kinematic and locomotor functional tests was observed in rats with incomplete SCI after early treadmill training (Fouad et al, 2000). Similarly, a study by Ung et al, 2010 reported no difference in locomotor function and muscle fiber conversion after treadmill training in complete transection injured mice (Ung et al, 2010).…”