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Cheung VCK, Ha SCW, Zhang-Lea JH, Chan ZYS, Teng Y, Yeung G, Wu L, Liang D, Cheung RTH. Motor patterns of patients with spinal muscular atrophy suggestive of sensory and corticospinal contributions to the development of locomotor muscle synergies. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:338-359. [PMID: 38230872 PMCID: PMC11321722 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00513.2022] [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] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Complex locomotor patterns are generated by combination of muscle synergies. How genetic processes, early sensorimotor experiences, and the developmental dynamics of neuronal circuits contribute to the expression of muscle synergies remains elusive. We shed light on the factors that influence development of muscle synergies by studying subjects with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA, types II/IIIa), a disorder associated with degeneration and deafferentation of motoneurons and possibly motor cortical and cerebellar abnormalities, from which the afflicted would have atypical sensorimotor histories around typical walking onset. Muscle synergies of children with SMA were identified from electromyographic signals recorded during active-assisted leg motions or walking, and compared with those of age-matched controls. We found that the earlier the SMA onset age, the more different the SMA synergies were from the normative. These alterations could not just be explained by the different degrees of uneven motoneuronal losses across muscles. The SMA-specific synergies had activations in muscles from multiple limb compartments, a finding reminiscent of the neonatal synergies of typically developing infants. Overall, while the synergies shared between SMA and control subjects may reflect components of a core modular infrastructure determined early in life, the SMA-specific synergies may be developmentally immature synergies that arise from inadequate activity-dependent interneuronal sculpting due to abnormal sensorimotor experience and other factors. Other mechanisms including SMA-induced intraspinal changes and altered cortical-spinal interactions may also contribute to synergy changes. Our interpretation highlights the roles of the sensory and descending systems to the typical and abnormal development of locomotor modules.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is likely the first report of locomotor muscle synergies of children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a subject group with atypical developmental sensorimotor experience. We found that the earlier the SMA onset age, the more the subjects' synergies deviated from those of age-matched controls. This result suggests contributions of the sensory/corticospinal activities to the typical expression of locomotor modules, and how their disruptions during a critical period of development may lead to abnormal motor modules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent C K Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, and Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research of Common Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong, China
| | - Sophia C W Ha
- School of Biomedical Sciences, and Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Health and Physical Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Janet H Zhang-Lea
- School of Nursing and Human Physiology, Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, United States
| | - Zoe Y S Chan
- Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Yanling Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Geshi Yeung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, and Gerald Choa Neuroscience Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Lingqian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Desheng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics and School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Roy T H Cheung
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Veshchitskii A, Merkulyeva N. Calcium-binding protein parvalbumin in the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. Neurochem Int 2023; 171:105634. [PMID: 37967669 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2023.105634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Parvalbumin is one of the calcium-binding proteins. In the spinal cord, it is mainly expressed in inhibitory neurons; in the dorsal root ganglia, it is expressed in proprioceptive neurons. In contrast to in the brain, weak systematization of parvalbumin-expressing neurons occurs in the spinal cord. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic review of parvalbumin-expressing neuronal populations throughout the spinal cord and the dorsal root ganglia of mammals, regarding their mapping, co-expression with some functional markers. The data reviewed are mostly concerning rodentia species because they are predominantly presented in literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr Veshchitskii
- Neuromorphology Lab, Pavlov Institute of Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalia Merkulyeva
- Neuromorphology Lab, Pavlov Institute of Physiology Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
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Lemon RN, Morecraft RJ. The evidence against somatotopic organization of function in the primate corticospinal tract. Brain 2023; 146:1791-1803. [PMID: 36575147 PMCID: PMC10411942 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We review the spatial organization of corticospinal outputs from different cortical areas and how this reflects the varied functions mediated by the corticospinal tract. A long-standing question is whether the primate corticospinal tract shows somatotopical organization. Although this has been clearly demonstrated for corticofugal outputs passing through the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle, there is accumulating evidence against somatotopy in the pyramidal tract in the lower brainstem and in the spinal course of the corticospinal tract. Answering the question on somatotopy has important consequences for understanding the effects of incomplete spinal cord injury. Our recent study in the macaque monkey, using high-resolution dextran tracers, demonstrated a great deal of intermingling of fibres originating from primary motor cortex arm/hand, shoulder and leg areas. We quantified the distribution of fibres belonging to these different projections and found no significant difference in their distribution across different subsectors of the pyramidal tract or lateral corticospinal tract, arguing against somatotopy. We further demonstrated intermingling with corticospinal outputs derived from premotor and supplementary motor arm areas. We present new evidence against somatotopy for corticospinal projections from rostral and caudal cingulate motor areas and from somatosensory areas of the parietal cortex. In the pyramidal tract and lateral corticospinal tract, fibres from the cingulate motor areas overlap with each other. Fibres from the primary somatosensory cortex arm area completely overlap those from the leg area. There is also substantial overlap of both these outputs with those from posterior parietal sensorimotor areas. We argue that the extensive intermingling of corticospinal outputs from so many different cortical regions must represent an organizational principle, closely related to its mediation of many different functions and its large range of fibre diameters. The motor sequelae of incomplete spinal injury, such as central cord syndrome and 'cruciate paralysis', include much greater deficits in upper than in lower limb movement. Current teaching and text book explanations of these symptoms are still based on a supposed corticospinal somatotopy or 'lamination', with greater vulnerability of arm and hand versus leg fibres. We suggest that such explanations should now be finally abandoned. Instead, the clinical and neurobiological implications of the complex organization of the corticospinal tract need now to be taken into consideration. This leads us to consider the evidence for a greater relative influence of the corticospinal tract on upper versus lower limb movements, the former best characterized by skilled hand and digit movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger N Lemon
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Robert J Morecraft
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Laboratory of Neurological Sciences, The University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
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Huang Z, Sun L, Zheng X, Zhang Y, Zhu Y, Chen T, Chen Z, Ja L, OuYang L, Zhu Y, Chen S, Lei W. A neural tract tracing study on synaptic connections for cortical glutamatergic terminals and cervical spinal calretinin neurons in rats. Front Neural Circuits 2023; 17:1086873. [PMID: 37187913 PMCID: PMC10175624 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2023.1086873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The cerebral cortex innervates motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord by regulating of interneurons. At present, nerve tracing, immunohistochemistry, and immunoelectron microscopy are used to explore and confirm the characteristics of synaptic connections between the corticospinal tract (CST) and cervical spinal calretinin (Cr) interneurons. Our morphological results revealed that (1) biotinylated dextran amine labeled (BDA+) fibers from the cerebral cortex primarily presented a contralateral spinal distribution, with a denser distribution in the ventral horn (VH) than in the dorsal horn (DH). An electron microscope (EM) showed that BDA+ terminals formed asymmetric synapses with spinal neurons, and their mean labeling rate was not different between the DH and VH. (2) Cr-immunoreactive (Cr+) neurons were unevenly distributed throughout the spinal gray matter, and were denser and larger in the VH than in the DH. At the single labeling electron microscope (EM) level, the labeling rate of Cr+ dendrites was higher in the VH than in the DH, in which Cr+ dendrites mainly received asymmetric synaptic inputs, and between the VH and DH. (3) Immunofluorescence triple labeling showed obvious apposition points among BDA+ terminals, synaptophysin and Cr+ dendrites, with a higher density in the VH than in the DH. (4) Double labeling in EM, BDA+ terminals and Cr+ dendrites presented the same pattern, BDA+ terminals formed asymmetric synapses either with Cr+ dendrites or Cr negative (Cr-) dendrites, and Cr+ dendrites received either BDA+ terminals or BDA- synaptic inputs. The average percentage of BDA+ terminals targeting Cr+ dendrites was higher in the VH than in the DH, but the percentage of BDA+ terminals targeting Cr- dendrites was prominently higher than that targeting Cr+ dendrites. There was no difference in BDA+ terminal size. The percentage rate for Cr+ dendrites receiving BDA+ terminal inputs was lower than that receiving BDA- terminal inputs, and the BDA+ terminal size was larger than the BDA- terminal size received by Cr+ dendrites. The present morphological results suggested that spinal Cr+ interneurons are involved in the regulatory process of the cortico-spinal pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyun Huang
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liping Sun
- Department of Pathology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuefeng Zheng
- Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Neuroscience Laboratory for Cognitive and Developmental Disorders, Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaxi Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linju Ja
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lisi OuYang
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaofeng Zhu
- College of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou, China
- Yaofeng Zhu, ,
| | - Si Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Zunyi Medical University, Zhuhai, China
- Si Chen, ,
| | - Wanlong Lei
- Department of Anatomy, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wanlong Lei, ,
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Chen B, Li F, Jia B, So KF, Wei JA, Liu Y, Qu Y, Zhou L. Celsr3 Inactivation in the Brainstem Impairs Rubrospinal Tract Development and Mouse Behaviors in Motor Coordination and Mechanic-Induced Response. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:5179-5192. [PMID: 35678978 PMCID: PMC9363480 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02910-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Inactivation of Celsr3 in the forebrain results in defects of longitudinal axonal tracts such as the corticospinal tract. In this study, we inactivated Celsr3 in the brainstem using En1-Cre mice (Celsr3 cKO) and analyzed axonal and behavioral phenotypes. Celsr3 cKO animals showed an 83% reduction of rubrospinal axons and 30% decrease of corticospinal axons in spinal segments, associated with increased branching of dopaminergic fibers in the ventral horn. Decreases of spinal motoneurons, neuromuscular junctions, and electromyographic signal amplitude of the biceps were also found in mutant animals. Mutant mice had impaired motor coordination and defective response to heavy mechanical stimulation, but no disability in walking and food pellet handling. Transsynaptic tracing demonstrated that rubrospinal axons synapse on spinal neurons in the deep layer of the dorsal horn, and mechanical stimulation of hindpaws induced strong calcium signal of red nuclei in control mice, which was less prominent in mutant mice. In conclusion, Celsr3 regulates development of spinal descending axons and the motor network in cell and non-cell autonomous manners, and the maturation of the rubrospinal system is required for motor coordination and response to mechanical stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boli Chen
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Huangpu Avenue West 601, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuxiang Li
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Huangpu Avenue West 601, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Jia
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Huangpu Avenue West 601, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Huangpu Avenue West 601, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
- Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institute, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, People's Republic of China
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, The First Affiliated Hospital & Clinical, Neuroscience Institute of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, People's Republic of China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji-An Wei
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuchu Liu
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yibo Qu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Huangpu Avenue West 601, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Libing Zhou
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Jinan University, Huangpu Avenue West 601, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China.
- Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation Institute, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, Shandong, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Center, The First Affiliated Hospital & Clinical, Neuroscience Institute of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, People's Republic of China.
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, 510005, People's Republic of China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Liu X, Mao Y, Shengwei H, Li W, Zhang W, An J, Jin Y, Guan J, Wu L, Zhou P. Selenium Nanoparticles derived from Proteus mirabilis YC801 alleviate Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Response to Promote Nerve Repair in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury. Regen Biomater 2022; 9:rbac042. [PMID: 35855111 PMCID: PMC9290869 DOI: 10.1093/rb/rbac042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Microbial biotransformation and detoxification of biotoxic selenite into selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) has emerged as an efficient technique for the utilization of selenium. SeNPs are characterized by high bioavailability and have several therapeutic effects owing to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective activities. However, their influence on microenvironment disturbances and neuroprotection after spinal cord injury (SCI) is yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to assess the influence of SeNPs on SCI and explore the underlying protective mechanisms. Overall, the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) were facilitated by SeNPs derived from Proteus mirabilis YC801 via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The SeNPs increased the number of neurons to a greater extent than astrocytes after differentiation and improved nerve regeneration. A therapeutic dose of SeNPs remarkably protected the integrity of the spinal cord to improve the motor function of the hind limbs after SCI, and decreased the expression of several inflammatory factors such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in vivo and enhanced the production of M2-type macrophages by regulating their polarization, indicating the suppressed inflammatory response. Besides, SeNPs reversed the SCI-mediated production of reactive oxygen species. In conclusion, SeNPs treatment holds the potential to improve the disturbed microenvironment and promote nerve regeneration, representing a promising therapeutic approach for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Liu
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College Department of Orthopedics, , Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
| | - Yingji Mao
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College Department of Orthopedics, , Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Tissue Transplantation, Bengbu Medical College , Bengbu, Anhui, 233030, China
| | - Huang Shengwei
- School of Life and Health Science, Anhui Science and Technology University Institute of Biomedical and Health Science, , Fengyang, Anhui, 239000, China
| | - Weifeng Li
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College Department of Orthopedics, , Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College Department of Orthopedics, , Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
| | - Jingzhou An
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College Department of Orthopedics, , Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
| | - Yongchao Jin
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College Department of Orthopedics, , Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
| | - Jianzhong Guan
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Tissue Transplantation, Bengbu Medical College , Bengbu, Anhui, 233030, China
| | - Lifang Wu
- Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences The Center for Ion Beam Bioengineering and Green Agriculture, , Anhui, 230031, China, Hefei
| | - Pinghui Zhou
- First Affiliated Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College Department of Orthopedics, , Bengbu, Anhui, 233004, China
- Spinal Deformity Clinical Research Center of Anhui Province , Fuyang, 236000, China
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Rodríguez-Barrera R, Rivas-González M, García-Sánchez J, Mojica-Torres D, Ibarra A. Neurogenesis after Spinal Cord Injury: State of the Art. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061499. [PMID: 34203611 PMCID: PMC8232196 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis in the adult state is the process of new neuron formation. This relatively infrequent phenomenon comprises four stages: cell proliferation, cell migration, differentiation, and the integration of these cells into an existing circuit. Recent reports suggest that neurogenesis can be found in different regions of the Central Nervous System (CNS), including the spinal cord (SC). This process can be observed in physiological settings; however, it is more evident in pathological conditions. After spinal cord injury (SCI), the activation of microglial cells and certain cytokines have shown to exert different modulatory effects depending on the presence of inflammation and on the specific region of the injury site. In these conditions, microglial cells and cytokines are considered to play an important role in the regulation of neurogenesis after SCI. The purpose of this article is to present an overview on neural progenitor cells and neurogenic and non-neurogenic zones as well as the cellular and molecular regulation of neurogenesis. Additionally, we will briefly describe the recent advances in the knowledge of neurogenesis after SCI.
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Steele PR, Cavarsan CF, Dowaliby L, Westefeld M, Katenka N, Drobyshevsky A, Gorassini MA, Quinlan KA. Altered Motoneuron Properties Contribute to Motor Deficits in a Rabbit Hypoxia-Ischemia Model of Cerebral Palsy. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:69. [PMID: 32269513 PMCID: PMC7109297 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is caused by a variety of factors attributed to early brain damage, resulting in permanently impaired motor control, marked by weakness and muscle stiffness. To find out if altered physiology of spinal motoneurons (MNs) could contribute to movement deficits, we performed whole-cell patch-clamp in neonatal rabbit spinal cord slices after developmental injury at 79% gestation. After preterm hypoxia-ischemia (HI), rabbits are born with motor deficits consistent with a spastic phenotype including hypertonia and hyperreflexia. There is a range in severity, thus kits are classified as severely affected, mildly affected, or unaffected based on modified Ashworth scores and other behavioral tests. At postnatal day (P)0-5, we recorded electrophysiological parameters of 40 MNs in transverse spinal cord slices using whole-cell patch-clamp. We found significant differences between groups (severe, mild, unaffected and sham control MNs). Severe HI MNs showed more sustained firing patterns, depolarized resting membrane potential, and fired action potentials at a higher frequency. These properties could contribute to muscle stiffness, a hallmark of spastic CP. Interestingly altered persistent inward currents (PICs) and morphology in severe HI MNs would dampen excitability (depolarized PIC onset and increased dendritic length). In summary, changes we observed in spinal MN physiology likely contribute to the severity of the phenotype, and therapeutic strategies for CP could target the excitability of spinal MNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preston R. Steele
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Clarissa Fantin Cavarsan
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Lisa Dowaliby
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - Megan Westefeld
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | - N. Katenka
- Department of Computer Science and Statistics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
| | | | - Monica A. Gorassini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Katharina A. Quinlan
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, United States
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
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Cavarsan CF, Gorassini MA, Quinlan KA. Animal models of developmental motor disorders: parallels to human motor dysfunction in cerebral palsy. J Neurophysiol 2019; 122:1238-1253. [PMID: 31411933 PMCID: PMC6766736 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00233.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in children. Much of the previous research on CP has focused on reducing the severity of brain injuries, whereas very few researchers have investigated the cause and amelioration of motor symptoms. This research focus has had an impact on the choice of animal models. Many of the commonly used animal models do not display a prominent CP-like motor phenotype. In general, rodent models show anatomically severe injuries in the central nervous system (CNS) in response to insults associated with CP, including hypoxia, ischemia, and neuroinflammation. Unfortunately, most rodent models do not display a prominent motor phenotype that includes the hallmarks of spasticity (muscle stiffness and hyperreflexia) and weakness. To study motor dysfunction related to developmental injuries, a larger animal model is needed, such as rabbit, pig, or nonhuman primate. In this work, we describe and compare various animal models of CP and their potential for translation to the human condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa F Cavarsan
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
| | - Monica A Gorassini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Katharina A Quinlan
- George and Anne Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island
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Synowiec S, Lu J, Yu L, Goussakov I, Lieber R, Drobyshevsky A. Spinal Hyper-Excitability and Altered Muscle Structure Contribute to Muscle Hypertonia in Newborns After Antenatal Hypoxia-Ischemia in a Rabbit Cerebral Palsy Model. Front Neurol 2019; 9:1183. [PMID: 30705663 PMCID: PMC6344443 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.01183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Rabbit kits after global antenatal hypoxic-ischemic injury exhibit motor deficits similar to humans with cerebral palsy. We tested several mechanisms previously implicated in spinal hyper-excitability after perinatal brain injury that may explain muscle hypertonia in newborns. Stiffness of hind limb muscles during passive stretch, electromyogram, and spinal excitability by Hoffman reflex, were assessed in rabbit kits with muscle hypertonia after global hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and naïve controls. Affected muscle architecture, motoneuron morphology, primary afferents density, gliosis, and KCC2 expression transporter in the spinal cord were also examined. Decrease knee stiffness after anesthetic administration was larger, but residual stiffness was higher in hypertonic kits compared to controls. Hypertonic kits exhibited muscle shortening and atrophy, in both agonists and antagonists. Sarcomere length was longer in tibialis anterior in hypertonic kits than in controls. Hypertonic kits had decreased rate dependent depression and increased Hmax/Mmax in H-reflex. Motor neuron soma sizes, primary afferent density were not different between controls and hypertonic kits. Length of dendritic tree and ramification index were lower in hypertonic group. Gene expression of KCC2 was lower in hypertonic kits, but protein content was not different between the groups. In conclusion, while we found evidence of decreased supraspinal inhibitory control and increased excitability by H-reflex that may contribute to neuronal component in hypertonia, increased joint resistance to stretch was explained predominantly by changes in passive properties of muscles and joints. We did not find structural evidence of increased sensory afferent input or morphological changes in motoneurons that might explain increased excitability. Gliosis, observed in spinal gray matter, may contribute to muscle hypertonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Synowiec
- Department of Pediatrics, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Jing Lu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Lei Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Ivan Goussakov
- Department of Pediatrics, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Richard Lieber
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University and the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Alexander Drobyshevsky
- Department of Pediatrics, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL, United States
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Drobyshevsky A, Quinlan KA. Spinal cord injury in hypertonic newborns after antenatal hypoxia-ischemia in a rabbit model of cerebral palsy. Exp Neurol 2017; 293:13-26. [PMID: 28347765 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
While antenatal hypoxia-ischemia (H-I) is a well-established cause of brain injury, the effects of H-I on the spinal cord remain undefined. This study examined whether hypertonia in rabbits was accompanied by changes in spinal architecture. Rabbit dams underwent global fetal H-I at embryonic day 25 for 40min. High resolution diffusion tensor imaging was performed on fixed neonatal CNS. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and regional volumetric measurements were compared between kits with and without hypertonia after H-I and sham controls using Tract Based Spatial Statistics. Hypertonic kits showed evidence of damage from hypoxia not only in the brain, but in spinal cord as well. Hypertonic kits showed reduced FA and thickness in corticospinal tracts, external capsule, fimbria, and in white and gray matter of both cervical and lumbar spinal cord. Dorsal white matter of the spinal cord was the exception, where there was thickening and increased FA in hypertonic kits. Direct damage to the spinal cord was demonstrated in a subset of dams imaged during H-I with a 3T magnetic resonance scanner, where apparent diffusion coefficient in fetal spinal cords acutely decreased during hypoxia. Hypertonic kits showed subsequent decreases in lumbar motoneuron counts and extensive TUNEL- and Fluoro-Jade C-positive labeling was present in the spinal cord 48h after H-I, demonstrating spinal neurodegeneration. We speculate that global H-I causes significant loss of both spinal white and gray matter in hypertonic newborns due to direct H-I injury to the spinal cord as well as due to upstream brain injury and consequent loss of descending projections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Drobyshevsky
- Department of Pediatric, NorthShore University HealthSystem Research Institute, Evanston, IL, United States.
| | - Katharina A Quinlan
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States
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Li LS, Yu H, Raynald R, Wang XD, Dai GH, Cheng HB, Liu XB, An YH. Anatomical mechanism of spontaneous recovery in regions caudal to thoracic spinal cord injury lesions in rats. PeerJ 2017; 5:e2865. [PMID: 28097067 PMCID: PMC5228130 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.2865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The nerve fibre circuits around a lesion play a major role in the spontaneous recovery process after spinal cord hemisection in rats. The aim of the present study was to answer the following question: in the re-control process, do all spinal cord nerves below the lesion site participate, or do the spinal cord nerves of only one vertebral segment have a role in repair? Methods First we made a T7 spinal cord hemisection in 50 rats. Eight weeks later, they were divided into three groups based on distinct second operations at T7: ipsilateral hemisection operation, contralateral hemisection, or transection. We then tested recovery of hindlimbs for another eight weeks. The first step was to confirm the lesion had role or not in the spontaneous recovery process. Secondly, we performed T7 spinal cord hemisections in 125 rats. Eight weeks later, we performed a second single hemisection on the ipsilateral side at T8–T12 and then tested hindlimb recovery for another six weeks. Results In the first part, the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) scores and the electrophysiology tests of both hindlimbs weren’t significantly different after the second hemisection of the ipsilateral side. In the second part, the closer the second hemisection was to T12, the more substantial the resulting impairment in BBB score tests and prolonged latency periods. Conclusions The nerve regeneration from the lesion area after hemisection has no effect on spontaneous recovery of the spinal cord. Repair is carried out by all vertebrae caudal and ipsilateral to the lesion, with T12 being most important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu-Sheng Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Chao-yang Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University , Beijing , China
| | - Raynald Raynald
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Cytotherapy, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces , Beijing , China
| | - Xiao-Dong Wang
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Cytotherapy, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces , Beijing , China
| | - Guang-Hui Dai
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Cytotherapy, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces , Beijing , China
| | - Hong-Bin Cheng
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Cytotherapy, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces , Beijing , China
| | - Xue-Bin Liu
- Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Cytotherapy, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces , Beijing , China
| | - Yi-Hua An
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Department of Functional Neurosurgery and Cytotherapy, General Hospital of Chinese People's Armed Police Forces, Beijing, China
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Huang L, Xian Q, Shen N, Shi L, Qu Y, Zhou L. Congenital absence of corticospinal tract does not severely affect plastic changes of the developing postnatal spinal cord. Neuroscience 2015; 301:338-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2015] [Revised: 06/06/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Han Q, Cao C, Ding Y, So KF, Wu W, Qu Y, Zhou L. Plasticity of motor network and function in the absence of corticospinal projection. Exp Neurol 2015; 267:194-208. [PMID: 25792481 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2014] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite the obvious clinical interest, our understanding of how developmental mechanisms are redeployed during degeneration and regeneration after brain and spinal cord injuries remains quite rudimentary. In animal models of spinal cord injury, although spontaneous regeneration of descending axons is limited, compensation by intact corticospinal axons, descending tracts from the brainstem, and local intrinsic spinal networks all contribute to the recovery of motor function. Here, we investigated spontaneous motor compensation and plasticity that occur in the absence of corticospinal tract, using Celsr3|Emx1 mice in which the corticospinal tract is completely and specifically absent as a consequence of Celsr3 inactivation in the cortex. Mutant mice had no paresis, but displayed hyperactivity in open-field, and a reduction in skilled movements in food pellet manipulation tests. The number of spinal motoneurons was reduced and their terminal arbors at neuromuscular junctions were atrophic, which was reflected in electromyography deficits. Rubrospinal projections, calretinin-positive propriospinal projections, afferent innervation of motoneurons by calretinin-positive segmental interneurons, and terminal ramifications of monoaminergic projections were significantly increased. Contrary to control animals, mutants also developed a severe and persistent disability of forelimb use following the section of the rubrospinal tract at the C4 spinal level. These observations demonstrate for the first time that the congenital absence of the corticospinal tract induces spontaneous plasticity, both at the level of the motor spinal cord and in descending monoaminergic and rubrospinal projections. Such compensatory mechanisms could be recruited in case of brain or spinal cord lesion or degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Han
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Changshu Cao
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, Medical School of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Yuetong Ding
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Wutian Wu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Department of Anatomy, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, PR China
| | - Yibo Qu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China.
| | - Libing Zhou
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Department of Human Anatomy, Medical School of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, PR China; Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu, PR China.
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Lu D, Xu A, Mai H, Zhao J, Zhang C, Qi R, Wang H, Lu D, Zhu L. The synergistic effects of heat shock protein 70 and ginsenoside Rg1 against tert-butyl hydroperoxide damage model in vitro. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2015; 2015:437127. [PMID: 25685255 PMCID: PMC4312651 DOI: 10.1155/2015/437127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2014] [Accepted: 12/13/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) transplanted is one of the hottest research to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD), but cholinergic neurons from stem cells were also susceptible to cell death which Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) was affirmed to reverse. Related to cognitive impairment, cholinergic nervous cells should be investigated and ginsenoside Rg1 (G-Rg1) was considered to increase them. We chose tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) damage model to study in vitro. Functional properties of our recombination plasmid pEGFP-C2-HSP70 were affirmed by SH-SY5Y cells. To opposite the transitory appearance of HSP70, NSCs used as the vectors of HSP70 gene overexpressed HSP70 for at least 7 days in vitro. After transfection for 3 days, G-Rg1 pretreatment for 4 hours, and coculture for 3 days, the expression of acetylcholinesterase (ChAT), synaptophysin, and the ratio of NeuN and GFAP were assessed by western blot; Morphological properties were detected by 3D reconstruction and immunofluorescence. ChAT was markedly improved in the groups contained G-Rg1. In coculture system, the ratio of neurons/astrocytes and the filaments of neurons were increased; apoptosis cells were decreased, compared to monotherapy (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we demonstrated that, as a safe cotreatment affirmed in vitro, overexpression of HSP70 in NSCs plus G-Rg1 promoted nervous cells regeneration from chronic oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Lu
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Brain Research, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
- 2Department of Internal Neurology, Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Anding Xu
- 2Department of Internal Neurology, Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Hongcheng Mai
- 2Department of Internal Neurology, Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Jiayi Zhao
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Brain Research, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Chanjuan Zhang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Brain Research, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Renbin Qi
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Brain Research, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Huadong Wang
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Brain Research, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Daxiang Lu
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Brain Research, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
- *Daxiang Lu: and
| | - Lihong Zhu
- 1Department of Pathophysiology, Institute of Brain Research, Key Laboratory of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
- *Lihong Zhu:
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Clowry GJ, Basuodan R, Chan F. What are the Best Animal Models for Testing Early Intervention in Cerebral Palsy? Front Neurol 2014; 5:258. [PMID: 25538677 PMCID: PMC4255621 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2014.00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Interventions to treat cerebral palsy should be initiated as soon as possible in order to restore the nervous system to the correct developmental trajectory. One drawback to this approach is that interventions have to undergo exceptionally rigorous assessment for both safety and efficacy prior to use in infants. Part of this process should involve research using animals but how good are our animal models? Part of the problem is that cerebral palsy is an umbrella term that covers a number of conditions. There are also many causal pathways to cerebral palsy, such as periventricular white matter injury in premature babies, perinatal infarcts of the middle cerebral artery, or generalized anoxia at the time of birth, indeed multiple causes, including intra-uterine infection or a genetic predisposition to infarction, may need to interact to produce a clinically significant injury. In this review, we consider which animal models best reproduce certain aspects of the condition, and the extent to which the multifactorial nature of cerebral palsy has been modeled. The degree to which the corticospinal system of various animal models human corticospinal system function and development is also explored. Where attempts have already been made to test early intervention in animal models, the outcomes are evaluated in light of the suitability of the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin John Clowry
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
| | - Reem Basuodan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
| | - Felix Chan
- Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University , Newcastle upon Tyne , UK
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Ramer LM, Ramer MS, Bradbury EJ. Restoring function after spinal cord injury: towards clinical translation of experimental strategies. Lancet Neurol 2014; 13:1241-56. [PMID: 25453463 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(14)70144-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury is currently incurable and treatment is limited to minimising secondary complications and maximising residual function by rehabilitation. Improved understanding of the pathophysiology of spinal cord injury and the factors that prevent nerve and tissue repair has fuelled a move towards more ambitious experimental treatments aimed at promoting neuroprotection, axonal regeneration, and neuroplasticity. By necessity, these new options are more invasive. However, in view of recent advances in spinal cord injury research and demand from patients, clinicians, and the scientific community to push promising experimental treatments to the clinic, momentum and optimism exist for the translation of candidate experimental treatments to clinical spinal cord injury. The ability to rescue, reactivate, and rewire spinal systems to restore function after spinal cord injury might soon be within reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne M Ramer
- King's College London, Regeneration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London, UK; International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Matt S Ramer
- King's College London, Regeneration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London, UK; International Collaboration On Repair Discoveries, Blusson Spinal Cord Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elizabeth J Bradbury
- King's College London, Regeneration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Guy's Campus, London, UK.
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18
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Ding Y, Qu Y, Feng J, Wang M, Han Q, So KF, Wu W, Zhou L. Functional motor recovery from motoneuron axotomy is compromised in mice with defective corticospinal projections. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101918. [PMID: 25003601 PMCID: PMC4087004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Brachial plexus injury (BPI) and experimental spinal root avulsion result in loss of motor function in the affected segments. After root avulsion, significant motoneuron function is restored by re-implantation of the avulsed root. How much this functional recovery depends on corticospinal inputs is not known. Here, we studied that question using Celsr3|Emx1 mice, in which the corticospinal tract (CST) is genetically absent. In adult mice, we tore off right C5-C7 motor and sensory roots and re-implanted the right C6 roots. Behavioral studies showed impaired recovery of elbow flexion in Celsr3|Emx1 mice compared to controls. Five months after surgery, a reduced number of small axons, and higher G-ratio of inner to outer diameter of myelin sheaths were observed in mutant versus control mice. At early stages post-surgery, mutant mice displayed lower expression of GAP-43 in spinal cord and of myelin basic protein (MBP) in peripheral nerves than control animals. After five months, mutant animals had atrophy of the right biceps brachii, with less newly formed neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) and reduced peak-to-peak amplitudes in electromyogram (EMG), than controls. However, quite unexpectedly, a higher motoneuron survival rate was found in mutant than in control mice. Thus, following root avulsion/re-implantation, the absence of the CST is probably an important reason to hamper axonal regeneration and remyelination, as well as target re-innervation and formation of new NMJ, resulting in lower functional recovery, while fostering motoneuron survival. These results indicate that manipulation of corticospinal transmission may help improve functional recovery following BPI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuetong Ding
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yibo Qu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Jia Feng
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Meizhi Wang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Qi Han
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Kwok-Fai So
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Anatomy LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Wutian Wu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Anatomy LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, P.R. China
| | - Libing Zhou
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Medical Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Diseases, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu, P.R. China
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Simonet JC, Sunnen CN, Wu J, Golden JA, Marsh ED. Conditional Loss of Arx From the Developing Dorsal Telencephalon Results in Behavioral Phenotypes Resembling Mild Human ARX Mutations. Cereb Cortex 2014; 25:2939-50. [PMID: 24794919 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhu090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the Aristaless-Related Homeobox (ARX) gene cause structural anomalies of the brain, epilepsy, and neurocognitive deficits in children. During forebrain development, Arx is expressed in both pallial and subpallial progenitor cells. We previously demonstrated that elimination of Arx from subpallial-derived cortical interneurons generates an epilepsy phenotype with features overlapping those seen in patients with ARX mutations. In this report, we have selectively removed Arx from pallial progenitor cells that give rise to the cerebral cortical projection neurons. While no discernable seizure activity was recorded, these mice exhibited a peculiar constellation of behaviors. They are less anxious, less social, and more active when compared with their wild-type littermates. The overall cortical thickness was reduced, and the corpus callosum and anterior commissure were hypoplastic, consistent with a perturbation in cortical connectivity. Taken together, these data suggest that some of the structural and behavioral anomalies, common in patients with ARX mutations, are specifically due to alterations in pallial progenitor function. Furthermore, our data demonstrate that some of the neurobehavioral features found in patients with ARX mutations may not be due to on-going seizures, as is often postulated, given that epilepsy was eliminated as a confounding variable in these behavior analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline C Simonet
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - C Nicole Sunnen
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jue Wu
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Golden
- Department of Pathology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Eric D Marsh
- Division of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Current address: Division of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 3615 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19072, USA
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Plastic changes in the spinal cord in motor neuron disease. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:670756. [PMID: 24829911 PMCID: PMC4009217 DOI: 10.1155/2014/670756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the present paper, we analyze the cell number within lamina X at the end stage of disease in a G93A mouse model of ALS; the effects induced by lithium; the stem-cell like phenotype of lamina X cells during ALS; the differentiation of these cells towards either a glial or neuronal phenotype. In summary we found that G93A mouse model of ALS produces an increase in lamina X cells which is further augmented by lithium administration. In the absence of lithium these nestin positive stem-like cells preferentially differentiate into glia (GFAP positive), while in the presence of lithium these cells differentiate towards a neuron-like phenotype (βIII-tubulin, NeuN, and calbindin-D28K positive). These effects of lithium are observed concomitantly with attenuation in disease progression and are reminiscent of neurogenetic effects induced by lithium in the subependymal ventricular zone of the hippocampus.
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