Novel Speed-Controlled Automated Ladder Walking Device Reveals Walking Speed as a Critical Determinant of Skilled Locomotion after a Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Rats

Richards, Tiffany M; Sharma, Pawan; Kuang, Aaron; Whitty, Douglas; Ahmed, Zaghloul; Shah, Prithvi

doi:10.1089/neu.2018.6152

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…The rung walking test, also a reliable tool used for sciatic nerve functional assessment, has been shown to be sensitive to chronic movement deficits after adult and neonate lesions to the motor system, including rat models of hypoxia-ischemia 39 , 47 , spinal cord injury 48 , 49 , and Parkinson’s disease 50 , 51 . Moreover, the ladder rung walking test detects changes in fine motor performance induced by physiological variables such as mild stress 42 and even changes in diet 52 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to rat models, the task is also useful for studying skilled walking in mice 39 . Furthermore, there is a lot of evidence that shows even subtle remaining functional motor deficits and compensatory adjustments, so the rung walking test is a reliable tool for assessing functional loss and recovery due to brain or spinal cord injury, and the benefit of treatment approaches 42 , 48 , 49 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Regenerative Potential of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Releasate Combined with Adipose Tissue–Derived Stem Cells in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model

Chuang

Kuo

et al. 2020

Cell Transplant

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Sciatic nerve injuries, not uncommon in trauma with a limited degree of functional recovery, are considered a persistent clinical, social, and economic problem worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests that stem cells can promote the tissue regeneration through various mechanisms. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of adipose tissue–derived stem cells (ADSCs) and combine with platelet-rich fibrin releasate (PRFr) in the regeneration of sciatic nerve injury in rats. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups, a blade was used to transect the left hindlimb sciatic nerve, and silicon tubes containing one of the following (by injection) were used to bridge the nerve proximal and distal ends (10-mm gap): group 1: untreated controls; group 2: PRFr alone; group 3: ADSCs alone; group 4: PRFr + ADSCs-treated. Walking function was assessed in horizontal rung ladder apparatus to compare the demands of the tasks and test sensitivity at 1-mo interval for a total of 3 mo. The gross inspection and histological examination was performed at 3 mo post transplantation. Overall, PRFr + ADSCs-treated performed better compared with PRFr or ADSCs injections alone. Significant group differences of neurological function were observed in ladder rung walking tests in all treated groups compared to that of untreated controls ( P < 0.05). This injection approach may provide a successfully employed technique to target sciatic nerve defects in vivo, and the combined strategy of ADSCs with PRFr appears to have a superior effect on nerve repair.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regenerative Potential of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Releasate Combined with Adipose Tissue–Derived Stem Cells in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model

Chuang

Kuo

et al. 2020

Cell Transplant

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“…Although our results corroborate with previous findings in rats 36,40,41 , we did not control the gait speed of the animals, an important covariate for nearly all gait parameters. This can be measured in future studies by recording of the time taken (in seconds) to reach the dark chamber (distance traveled divided by the time it took to cover this distance) 42 , statistical models 43 , speed control with treadmill 44,45 or by using modern high-speed videography (i.e. catwalk), which is more likely to provide a robust analysis of spatial parameters 46 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical-like cryotherapy improves footprint patterns and reduces synovial inflammation in a rat model of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis

Barbosa

Cunha

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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Cryotherapy is a non-pharmacological treatment commonly used to control inflammation and improve function after acute traumas. However, there are no definitive findings about its effects on chronic joint diseases such as knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of clinical-like cryotherapy on functional impairment and synovial inflammation in a rat model of KOA generated by anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT). Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8/group): Control, KOA, KOA + Cryotherapy and KOA + Placebo. The last two groups were submitted to the relevant interventions twice a day for five days (61 to 65), with each session lasting 20 min. Gait test, skin temperature, thermal response threshold and joint swelling were assessed in all groups before ACLT surgery, and pre (60th day) and post (66th day) intervention protocols. On day 66, the animals were euthanized and exsanguinated to remove the synovial membrane for histopathological examination and synovial fluid to determine the leukocyte count and cytokine concentration. After the intervention period (66th day), footprint area only increased in the KOA + Cryotherapy group (P = 0.004; 14%) when compared to KOA and KOA + Placebo, but did not differ from controls. Cryotherapy lowered the synovial fluid leukocyte count (P < 0.0001; ≥95.0%) and cytokine concentration (P < 0.0001; ≥55%) when compared to the KOA and Placebo groups. Synovial score and synovial fibrosis did not differ in the KOA groups. In conclusion, footprint patterns improved in rats with ACLT-induced KOA as a result of clinical-like cryotherapy, which also lowered the synovial fluid leukocyte count and inflammatory cytokine concentration in these rats.

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“…All surgeries were performed under aseptic conditions with rats deeply anesthetized with isoflurane gas (1.0-2.5% via facemask as needed) on a heated table to maintain body temperature at 37 0 C as described previously (Rascoe et al ., 2018; Richards et al ., 2019). After surgery, rats were placed in an incubator until fully recovered and administered antibiotics (Enrofloxacin, 40 mg/kg) and analgesics (Buprenex, 0.03 mg/kg) as needed for up to 5 days.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cervical Spinal Cord Modulation with Repeated Epidural Stimulation in Healthy Adult Rats

Sharma

Rampursaud

Shah

2022

Preprint

Self Cite

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The effects of spinal epidural stimulation (ES) in regaining various physiological functions after a spinal cord injury (SCI) are well documented. Spinal evoked motor responses (SEMR) are commonly utilized experimental outcomes in longitudinal pre-clinical and human studies to reflect the in-vivo physiological changes in neural networks secondary to a neurological insult or neuro-rehabilitative treatments utilizing ES. However, it remains unknown if the repeated exposure to ES during SEMRs testing itself modulates the spinal cord physiology and hence the SEMRs characteristics. To address this issue, cervical ES was delivered to the healthy adult rats' cervical cord using standard stimulation paradigms during multiple sessions (~17 hours that spanned across 100 days). Cervical SEMR and electromyography (EMG) activity from forelimb muscles during a reaching & grasping task were collected before and after 100 days. We noted persistent increase in the cervical SEMR and forelimb muscle activity during reaching & grasping task relative to baseline at the end of the stimulation period indicating increased spinal and cortical excitability. Findings from the present work suggests that cervical SEMRs are amenable to modulation by routine ES testing protocols, with prominent changes in the mono and poly synaptic component of evoked responses. Additionally, since multiple testing sessions of cervical ES alone increases the excitability of the intact spinal cord, we suggest that SEMR data be used with caution to infer the physiological status of the spinal circuitry in longitudinal studies involving multiple SEMR testing sessions. Our findings also recommend involving appropriate control groups, motor behavior correlates, and practicing caution while utilizing normalization methods to allow meaningful functional interpretation of SEMR profiles following a SCI.

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Novel Speed-Controlled Automated Ladder Walking Device Reveals Walking Speed as a Critical Determinant of Skilled Locomotion after a Spinal Cord Injury in Adult Rats

Cited by 8 publications

References 64 publications

Regenerative Potential of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Releasate Combined with Adipose Tissue–Derived Stem Cells in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model

Regenerative Potential of Platelet-Rich Fibrin Releasate Combined with Adipose Tissue–Derived Stem Cells in a Rat Sciatic Nerve Injury Model

Clinical-like cryotherapy improves footprint patterns and reduces synovial inflammation in a rat model of post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis

Cervical Spinal Cord Modulation with Repeated Epidural Stimulation in Healthy Adult Rats

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