1
|
Alamri FF, Karamyan ST, Karamyan VT. A Low-Budget Photothrombotic Rodent Stroke Model. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2616:21-28. [PMID: 36715924 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2926-0_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A number of animal stroke models have been developed and used over the years to study the pathological mechanisms of this disorder and develop new therapies. Among them, the photothrombotic model of ischemic stroke has been central in various studies focusing on understanding of the basic biology of neural repair, identification and validation of key molecular targets involved in post-stroke recovery, and preclinical testing of various therapeutic approaches. To facilitate uniformity among various experimental groups using this expert-recommended mouse model of choice for stroke recovery studies, in this chapter we describe in detail a low-budget technique to induce photothrombosis in the mouse primary motor cortex. Additionally, we provide tips for conducting this procedure in other cerebral cortical regions of the mouse brain and in rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Faisal F Alamri
- College of Sciences and Health Profession, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Serob T Karamyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Vardan T Karamyan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA.
- Department of Foundational Medical Studies, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen M, Ingle L, Plautz EJ, Kong X, Tang R, Ghosh N, Romprey MK, Fenske WK, Goldberg MP. LZK-dependent stimulation of astrocyte reactivity promotes corticospinal axon sprouting. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:969261. [PMID: 36187291 PMCID: PMC9520579 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.969261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Injury to the adult mammalian central nervous system induces compensatory plasticity of spared axons—referred to as collateral axon sprouting—that can facilitate neural recovery. The contribution of reactive astrocytes to axon sprouting remains elusive. Here, we sought to investigate the role of axon degeneration-reactive astrocytes in the regulation of collateral axon sprouting that occurs in the mouse spinal cord after unilateral photothrombotic stroke of the primary motor cortex. We identified astrocytic leucine zipper-bearing kinase (LZK) as a positive regulator of astrocyte reactivity to corticospinal axon degeneration. Remarkably, genetic stimulation of astrocyte reactivity, via LZK overexpression in adult astrocytes, enhanced corticospinal axon sprouting. LZK promoted the production of astrocyte-derived ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) that likely enhanced axon growth in mice with astrocytic LZK overexpression after injury. Our finding that LZK-dependent stimulation of astrocyte reactivity promotes corticospinal axon sprouting highlights the potential of engineering astrocytes to support injury-induced axon plasticity for neural repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meifan Chen
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Meifan Chen,
| | - Laura Ingle
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Erik J. Plautz
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Xiangmei Kong
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Rui Tang
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Neil Ghosh
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Megan K. Romprey
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - William K. Fenske
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Mark P. Goldberg
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
- Mark P. Goldberg,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Inoue T, Takamatsu Y, Nishio T, Soma K, Okamura M, Tohyama H, Maejima H. Combined treatment with exercise and α5GABA AR inhibitor promotes motor function recovery after intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurosci Lett 2022; 766:136344. [PMID: 34785309 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to examine the synergistic effects of exercise and pharmacological inhibition of the α5 subunit-containing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors (α5GABAAR) on motor function recovery after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 8 per group): SHAM, ICH, ICH + exercise (ICH + EX), ICH + L-655,708 (ICH + L6), and ICH + L-655,708 and exercise (ICH + L6EX) groups. ICH was induced by microinjection of a collagenase solution. The ICH + EX and ICH + L6EX groups exercised on a treadmill (12 m/min for 30 min/day). L-655,708 (0.5 mg/kg), a negative allosteric modulator of α5GABAAR, was administered intraperitoneally to the ICH + L6 and ICH + L6EX groups. Each intervention was initiated 1 week after the ICH surgery and was performed for 3 weeks, followed by tissue collection, including the motor cortex and spinal cord. At 4 weeks after ICH, significant motor recovery was found in the ICH + L6EX group compared to the ICH group. L-655,708 administration increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the cortex. Regarding neuroplastic changes in the spinal cord, rats in the ICH + L6EX group showed a significant increase in several neuroplastic markers: 1) BDNF, 2) growth-associated protein 43 as an axonal sprouting marker, 3) synaptophysin as a synaptic marker, and 4) Nogo-A as an axonal growth inhibitor. This study is the first to demonstrate that combined treatment with exercise and α5GABAAR inhibitor effectively promoted motor function recovery after ICH. Regarding the underlying mechanism of post-ICH recovery with the combined treatment, the present study highlights the importance of both growth and inhibitory modification of axonal sprouting in the spinal cord.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Inoue
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan; Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Yasuyuki Takamatsu
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Taichi Nishio
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Kiho Soma
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Misato Okamura
- Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Harukazu Tohyama
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Maejima
- Department of Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Kita 12 Nishi 5, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-0812, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Becker AM, Betz DM, Goldberg MP. Forelimb Cortical Stroke Reduces Precision of Motor Control in Mice. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2020; 34:475-478. [PMID: 32431214 DOI: 10.1177/1545968320921825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objective. Rodent models of stroke impairment should capture translatable features of behavioral injury. This study characterized poststroke impairment of motor precision separately from strength in an automated behavioral assay. Methods. We measured skilled distal forelimb reach-and-grasp motions within a target force range requiring moderate-strength. We assessed whether deficits reflected an increase in errors on only one or both sides of the target force range after photothrombotic cortical stroke. Results. Pull accuracy was impaired for 6 weeks after stroke, with errors redistributing to both sides of the target range. No decrease in maximum force was measured. Conclusions. This automated reach task measures sustained loss of motor precision following cortical stroke in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- April M Becker
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA
| | - Dene M Betz
- UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,University of Texas Health San Antonio, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
B cells migrate into remote brain areas and support neurogenesis and functional recovery after focal stroke in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:4983-4993. [PMID: 32051245 PMCID: PMC7060723 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1913292117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation occurs immediately after stroke onset in the ischemic infarct, but whether neuroinflammation occurs in remote regions supporting plasticity and functional recovery remains unknown. We used advanced imaging to quantify whole-brain diapedesis of B cells, an immune cell capable of producing neurotrophins. We identify bilateral B cell diapedesis into remote regions, outside of the injury, that support motor and cognitive recovery in young male mice. Poststroke depletion of B cells confirms a positive role in neurogenesis, neuronal survival, and recovery of motor coordination, spatial learning, and anxiety. More than 80% of stroke survivors have long-term disability uniquely affected by age and lifestyle factors. Thus, identifying beneficial neuroinflammation during long-term recovery increases the opportunity of therapeutic interventions to support functional recovery. Lymphocytes infiltrate the stroke core and penumbra and often exacerbate cellular injury. B cells, however, are lymphocytes that do not contribute to acute pathology but can support recovery. B cell adoptive transfer to mice reduced infarct volumes 3 and 7 d after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo), independent of changing immune populations in recipient mice. Testing a direct neurotrophic effect, B cells cocultured with mixed cortical cells protected neurons and maintained dendritic arborization after oxygen-glucose deprivation. Whole-brain volumetric serial two-photon tomography (STPT) and a custom-developed image analysis pipeline visualized and quantified poststroke B cell diapedesis throughout the brain, including remote areas supporting functional recovery. Stroke induced significant bilateral B cell diapedesis into remote brain regions regulating motor and cognitive functions and neurogenesis (e.g., dentate gyrus, hypothalamus, olfactory areas, cerebellum) in the whole-brain datasets. To confirm a mechanistic role for B cells in functional recovery, rituximab was given to human CD20+ (hCD20+) transgenic mice to continuously deplete hCD20+-expressing B cells following tMCAo. These mice experienced delayed motor recovery, impaired spatial memory, and increased anxiety through 8 wk poststroke compared to wild type (WT) littermates also receiving rituximab. B cell depletion reduced stroke-induced hippocampal neurogenesis and cell survival. Thus, B cell diapedesis occurred in areas remote to the infarct that mediated motor and cognitive recovery. Understanding the role of B cells in neuronal health and disease-based plasticity is critical for developing effective immune-based therapies for protection against diseases that involve recruitment of peripheral immune cells into the injured brain.
Collapse
|
6
|
Alamri FF, Shoyaib AA, Biggers A, Jayaraman S, Guindon J, Karamyan VT. Applicability of the grip strength and automated von Frey tactile sensitivity tests in the mouse photothrombotic model of stroke. Behav Brain Res 2018; 336:250-255. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
7
|
Photothrombotic Stroke as a Model of Ischemic Stroke. Transl Stroke Res 2017; 9:437-451. [DOI: 10.1007/s12975-017-0593-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
8
|
Percie du Sert N, Alfieri A, Allan SM, Carswell HV, Deuchar GA, Farr TD, Flecknell P, Gallagher L, Gibson CL, Haley MJ, Macleod MR, McColl BW, McCabe C, Morancho A, Moon LD, O'Neill MJ, Pérez de Puig I, Planas A, Ragan CI, Rosell A, Roy LA, Ryder KO, Simats A, Sena ES, Sutherland BA, Tricklebank MD, Trueman RC, Whitfield L, Wong R, Macrae IM. The IMPROVE Guidelines (Ischaemia Models: Procedural Refinements Of in Vivo Experiments). J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2017; 37:3488-3517. [PMID: 28797196 PMCID: PMC5669349 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x17709185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Most in vivo models of ischaemic stroke target the middle cerebral artery and a spectrum of stroke severities, from mild to substantial, can be achieved. This review describes opportunities to improve the in vivo modelling of ischaemic stroke and animal welfare. It provides a number of recommendations to minimise the level of severity in the most common rodent models of middle cerebral artery occlusion, while sustaining or improving the scientific outcomes. The recommendations cover basic requirements pre-surgery, selecting the most appropriate anaesthetic and analgesic regimen, as well as intraoperative and post-operative care. The aim is to provide support for researchers and animal care staff to refine their procedures and practices, and implement small incremental changes to improve the welfare of the animals used and to answer the scientific question under investigation. All recommendations are recapitulated in a summary poster (see supplementary information).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Percie du Sert
- 1 National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), London, UK
| | - Alessio Alfieri
- 2 The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Stuart M Allan
- 3 Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Hilary Vo Carswell
- 4 Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
| | - Graeme A Deuchar
- 5 Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow/Arum Biosciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Tracy D Farr
- 6 School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Lindsay Gallagher
- 5 Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow/Arum Biosciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Claire L Gibson
- 8 Department of Neuroscience, Psychology and Behaviour, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Michael J Haley
- 3 Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Malcolm R Macleod
- 9 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Barry W McColl
- 2 The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, UK
| | - Christopher McCabe
- 5 Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow/Arum Biosciences, Glasgow, UK
| | - Anna Morancho
- 10 Neurovascular Research Laboratory. Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lawrence Df Moon
- 11 Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Isabel Pérez de Puig
- 13 Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona (IIBB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Planas
- 13 Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona (IIBB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Anna Rosell
- 10 Neurovascular Research Laboratory. Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lisa A Roy
- 5 Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow/Arum Biosciences, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Alba Simats
- 10 Neurovascular Research Laboratory. Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Barcelona, Spain
| | - Emily S Sena
- 9 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Brad A Sutherland
- 16 Acute Stroke Programme, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,17 School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Mark D Tricklebank
- 18 Centre for Neuroimaging Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca C Trueman
- 6 School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham, UK
| | | | - Raymond Wong
- 3 Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - I Mhairi Macrae
- 5 Institute of Neuroscience and Psychology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow/Arum Biosciences, Glasgow, UK
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Is Remodelling of Corticospinal Tract Terminations Originating in the Intact Hemisphere Associated with Recovery following Transient Ischaemic Stroke in the Rat? PLoS One 2016; 11:e0152176. [PMID: 27014870 PMCID: PMC4807821 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0152176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Following large strokes that encompass the cerebral cortex, it has been suggested that the corticospinal tract originating from the non-ischaemic hemisphere reorganises its pattern of terminal arborisation within the spinal cord to compensate for loss of function. However many strokes in humans predominantly affect subcortical structures with minimal involvement of the cerebral cortex. The aim of the present study was to determine whether remodelling of corticospinal terminals arising from the non-ischaemic hemisphere was associated with spontaneous recovery in rats with subcortical infarcts. Rats were subjected to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion or sham surgery and 28 days later, when animals exhibited functional recovery, cholera toxin b subunit was injected into the contralesional, intact forelimb motor cortex in order to anterogradely label terminals within cervical spinal cord segments. Infarcts were limited to subcortical structures and resulted in partial loss of corticospinal tract axons from the ischaemic hemisphere. Quantitative analysis revealed there was no significant difference in the numbers of terminals on the contralesional side of the spinal grey matter between ischaemic and sham rats. The results indicate that significant remodelling of the corticospinal tract from the non-ischaemic hemisphere is not associated with functional recovery in animals with subcortical infarcts.
Collapse
|
10
|
Jones TA, Adkins DL. Motor System Reorganization After Stroke: Stimulating and Training Toward Perfection. Physiology (Bethesda) 2015; 30:358-70. [PMID: 26328881 PMCID: PMC4556825 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00014.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke instigates regenerative responses that reorganize connectivity patterns among surviving neurons. The new connectivity patterns can be suboptimal for behavioral function. This review summarizes current knowledge on post-stroke motor system reorganization and emerging strategies for shaping it with manipulations of behavior and cortical activity to improve functional outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Theresa A Jones
- Psychology Department, Neuroscience Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas; and
| | - DeAnna L Adkins
- Neurosciences Department, and Health Sciences & Research Department, Colleges of Medicine & Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Tennant KA. Thinking outside the brain: structural plasticity in the spinal cord promotes recovery from cortical stroke. Exp Neurol 2014; 254:195-9. [PMID: 24518486 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2014.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Neuroanatomically connected regions distal to a cortical stroke can exhibit both degenerative and adaptive changes during recovery. As the locus for afferent somatosensory fibres and efferent motor fibres, the spinal cord is ideally situated to play a critical role in functional recovery. In contrast to the wealth of research into cortical plasticity after stroke, much less focus has previously been placed on the role of subcortical or spinal cord plasticity in recovery of function after cortical stroke. Little is known about the extent and spatiotemporal profile of spinal rewiring, its regulation by neurotrophins or inflammatory cytokines, or its potential as a therapeutic target to improve stroke recovery. This commentary examines the recent findings by Sist et al. (2014) that there is a distinct critical period of heightened structural plasticity, growth factor expression, and inflammatory cytokine production in the spinal cord. They suggest that neuroplasticity is highest during the first two weeks after stroke and tapers off dramatically by the fourth week. Spinal cord plasticity correlates with the severity of cortical injury and temporally matches periods of accelerated spontaneous recovery of skilled reaching function. The potential of treatments that extend or re-open this window of spinal cord plasticity, such as anti-Nogo-A antibodies or chondroitinase ABC, to dramatically improve recovery from cortical stroke in clinical populations is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly A Tennant
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sist B, Fouad K, Winship IR. Plasticity beyond peri-infarct cortex: spinal up regulation of structural plasticity, neurotrophins, and inflammatory cytokines during recovery from cortical stroke. Exp Neurol 2013; 252:47-56. [PMID: 24291254 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2013] [Revised: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stroke induces pathophysiological and adaptive processes in regions proximal and distal to the infarct. Recent studies suggest that plasticity at the level of the spinal cord may contribute to sensorimotor recovery after cortical stroke. Here, we compare the time course of heightened structural plasticity in the spinal cord against the temporal profile of cortical plasticity and spontaneous behavioral recovery. To examine the relation between trophic and inflammatory effectors and spinal structural plasticity, spinal expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured. Growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), measured at 3, 7, 14, or 28 days after photothrombotic stroke of the forelimb sensorimotor cortex (FL-SMC) to provide an index of periods of heightened structural plasticity, varied as a function of lesion size and time after stroke in the cortical hemispheres and the spinal cord. Notably, GAP-43 levels in the cervical spinal cord were significantly increased after FL-SMC lesion, but the temporal window of elevated structural plasticity was more finite in spinal cord relative to ipsilesional cortical expression (returning to baseline levels by 28 post-stroke). Peak GAP-43 expression in spinal cord occurred during periods of accelerated spontaneous recovery, as measured on the Montoya Staircase reaching task, and returned to baseline as recovery plateaued. Interestingly, spinal GAP-43 levels were significantly correlated with spinal levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 as well as the neurotrophin NT-3, while a transient increase in BDNF levels preceded elevated GAP-43 expression. These data identify a significant but time-limited window of heightened structural plasticity in the spinal cord following stroke that correlates with spontaneous recovery and the spinal expression of inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophic factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bernice Sist
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada; Neurochemical Research Unit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada.
| | - Karim Fouad
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada; Faculty of Rehabilitative Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada.
| | - Ian R Winship
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada; Neurochemical Research Unit, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R3, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
The work of recent decades has shown that the nervous system changes continually throughout life. Activity-dependent central nervous system (CNS) plasticity has many different mechanisms and involves essentially every region, from the cortex to the spinal cord. This new knowledge radically changes the challenge of explaining learning and memory and greatly increases the relevance of the spinal cord. The challenge is now to explain how continual and ubiquitous plasticity accounts for the initial acquisition and subsequent stability of many different learned behaviors. The spinal cord has a key role because it is the final common pathway for all behavior and is a site of substantial plasticity. Furthermore, because it is simple, accessible, distant from the rest of the CNS, and directly connected to behavior, the spinal cord is uniquely suited for identifying sites and mechanisms of plasticity and for determining how they account for behavioral change. Experimental models based on spinal cord reflexes facilitate study of the gradual plasticity that makes possible most rapid learning phenomena. These models reveal principles and generate concepts that are likely to apply to learning and memory throughout the CNS. In addition, they offer new approaches to guiding activity-dependent plasticity so as to restore functions lost to injury or disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan R Wolpaw
- Laboratory of Neural Injury and Repair, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201-0509, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Repeated mesenchymal stem cell treatment after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia has distinct effects on formation and maturation of new neurons and oligodendrocytes leading to restoration of damage, corticospinal motor tract activity, and sensorimotor function. J Neurosci 2010; 30:9603-11. [PMID: 20631189 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1835-10.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Birth asphyxia is a frequent cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality with limited therapeutic options. We show that a single mesenchymal stem cell treatment at 3 d (MSC-3) after neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) in postnatal day 9 mice improved sensorimotor function and reduced lesion size. A second MSC treatment at 10 d after HI (MSC-3+10) further enhanced sensorimotor improvement and recovery of MAP2 and MBP (myelin basic protein) staining. Ipsilateral anterograde corticospinal tract tracing with biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) showed that HI reduced BDA labeling of the contralateral spinal cord. Only MSC-3+10 treatment partially restored contralateral spinal cord BDA staining, indicating enhanced axonal remodeling. MSC-3 enhanced formation of bromodeoxyuridine-positive neurons and oligodendrocytes. Interestingly, the second gift at day 10 did not further increase new cell formation, whereas only MSC-10 did. These findings indicate that increased positive effect of MSC-3+10 compared with MSC-3 alone is mediated via distinct pathways. We hypothesize that MSCs adapt their growth and differentiation factor production to the needs of the environment at the time of intracranial injection. Comparing the response of MSCs to in vitro culture with HI brain extracts obtained at day 10 from MSC-3- or vehicle-treated animals by pathway-focused PCR array analysis revealed that 29 genes encoding secreted factors were indeed differentially regulated. We propose that the function of MSCs is dictated by adaptive specific signals provided by the damaged and regenerating brain.
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhang Y, Xiong Y, Mahmood A, Meng Y, Liu Z, Qu C, Chopp M. Sprouting of corticospinal tract axons from the contralateral hemisphere into the denervated side of the spinal cord is associated with functional recovery in adult rat after traumatic brain injury and erythropoietin treatment. Brain Res 2010; 1353:249-57. [PMID: 20654589 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2010] [Revised: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 07/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) promotes functional recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study was designed to investigate whether EPO treatment promotes contralateral corticospinal tract (CST) plasticity in the spinal cord in rats after TBI. Biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was injected into the right sensorimotor cortex to anterogradely label the CST. TBI was induced by controlled cortical impact over the left parietal cortex immediately after BDA injections. EPO (5000 U/kg) or saline was administered intraperitoneally at Days 1, 2, and 3 post-injury. Neurological function was assessed using a modified neurological severity score (mNSS) and footfault tests. Animals were sacrificed 35 days after injury and brain sections stained for histological analysis. Compared to the saline treatment, EPO treatment significantly improved sensorimotor functional outcome (lower mNSS and reduced footfaults) from Days 7 to 35 post-injury. TBI alone significantly stimulated contralateral CST axon sprouting toward the denervated gray matter of the cervical and lumbar spinal cord; however, EPO treatment further significantly increased the axon sprouting in TBI rats although EPO treatment did not significantly affect axon sprouting in sham animals. The contralesional CST sprouting was highly and positively correlated with sensorimotor recovery after TBI. These data demonstrate that CST fibers originating from the contralesional intact cerebral hemisphere are capable of sprouting into the denervated spinal cord after TBI and EPO treatment, which may at least partially contribute to functional recovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanlu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
16
|
McNeal DW, Darling WG, Ge J, Stilwell-Morecraft KS, Solon KM, Hynes SM, Pizzimenti MA, Rotella DL, Vanadurongvan T, Morecraft RJ. Selective long-term reorganization of the corticospinal projection from the supplementary motor cortex following recovery from lateral motor cortex injury. J Comp Neurol 2010; 518:586-621. [PMID: 20034062 DOI: 10.1002/cne.22218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Brain injury affecting the frontal motor cortex or its descending axons often causes contralateral upper extremity paresis. Although recovery is variable, the underlying mechanisms supporting favorable motor recovery remain unclear. Because the medial wall of the cerebral hemisphere is often spared following brain injury and recent functional neuroimaging studies in patients indicate a potential role for this brain region in the recovery process, we investigated the long-term effects of isolated lateral frontal motor cortical injury on the corticospinal projection (CSP) from intact, ipsilesional supplementary motor cortex (M2). After injury to the arm region of the primary motor (M1) and lateral premotor (LPMC) cortices, upper extremity recovery is accompanied by terminal axon plasticity in the contralateral CSP but not the ipsilateral CSP from M2. Furthermore, significant contralateral plasticity occurs only in lamina VII and dorsally within lamina IX. Thus, selective intraspinal sprouting transpires in regions containing interneurons, flexor-related motor neurons, and motor neurons supplying intrinsic hand muscles, which all play important roles in mediating reaching and digit movements. After recovery, subsequent injury of M2 leads to reemergence of hand motor deficits. Considering the importance of the CSP in humans and the common occurrence of lateral frontal cortex injury, these findings suggest that spared supplementary motor cortex may serve as an important therapeutic target that should be considered when designing acute and long-term postinjury patient intervention strategies aimed to enhance the motor recovery process following lateral cortical trauma.
Collapse
|
17
|
Murphy TH, Corbett D. Plasticity during stroke recovery: from synapse to behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci 2009; 10:861-72. [PMID: 19888284 DOI: 10.1038/nrn2735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1217] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Reductions in blood flow to the brain of sufficient duration and extent lead to stroke, which results in damage to neuronal networks and the impairment of sensation, movement or cognition. Evidence from animal models suggests that a time-limited window of neuroplasticity opens following a stroke, during which the greatest gains in recovery occur. Plasticity mechanisms include activity-dependent rewiring and synapse strengthening. The challenge for improving stroke recovery is to understand how to optimally engage and modify surviving neuronal networks, to provide new response strategies that compensate for tissue lost to injury.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy H Murphy
- Kinsmen Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | | |
Collapse
|