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Tai W, Du X, Chen C, Xu XM, Zhang CL, Wu W. NG2 glia reprogramming induces robust axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury. iScience 2024; 27:108895. [PMID: 38318363 PMCID: PMC10839253 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to neuronal loss, axonal degeneration, and behavioral dysfunction. We recently show that in vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia produces new neurons, reduces glial scaring, and ultimately leads to improved function after SCI. By examining endogenous neurons, we here unexpectedly uncover that NG2 glia reprogramming also induces robust axonal regeneration of the corticospinal tract and serotonergic neurons. Such reprogramming-induced axonal regeneration may contribute to the reconstruction of neural networks essential for behavioral recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Tai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xiaolong Du
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chun-Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Tai W, Du X, Chen C, Xu XM, Zhang CL, Wu W. NG2 Glia Reprogramming Induces Robust Axonal Regeneration After Spinal Cord Injury. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.14.544792. [PMID: 37398355 PMCID: PMC10312714 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.14.544792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to neuronal loss, axonal degeneration and behavioral dysfunction. We recently show that in vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia produces new neurons, reduces glial scaring, and ultimately leads to improved function after SCI. By examining endogenous neurons, we here unexpectedly uncover that NG2 glia reprogramming also induces robust axonal regeneration of the corticospinal tract and serotonergic neurons. Such reprogramming-induced axonal regeneration may contribute to the reconstruction of neural networks essential for behavioral recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Tai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Xiaolong Du
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Chun-Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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Wu W, Nguyen T, Ordaz JD, Zhang YP, Liu NK, Hu X, Liu Y, Ping X, Han Q, Wu X, Qu W, Gao S, Shields CB, Jin X, Xu XM. Transhemispheric remodeling the motor cortex promotes forelimb recovery after mouse spinal cord injury. JCI Insight 2022; 7:158150. [PMID: 35552276 PMCID: PMC9309060 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.158150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the reorganization of neural circuits spared after spinal cord injury in the motor cortex and spinal cord would provide insights for developing therapeutics. Using optogenetic mapping, we demonstrated a transhemispheric recruitment of neural circuits in the contralateral cortical M1/M2 area to improve the impaired forelimb function after a cervical 5 right-sided hemisection in mice, a model mimicking the human Brown-Séquard syndrome. This cortical reorganization can be elicited by a selective cortical optogenetic neuromodulation paradigm. Areas of whisker, jaw, and neck, together with the rostral forelimb area, on the motor cortex ipsilateral to the lesion were engaged to control the ipsilesional forelimb in both stimulation and nonstimulation groups 8 weeks following injury. However, significant functional benefits were only seen in the stimulation group. Using anterograde tracing, we further revealed a robust sprouting of the intact corticospinal tract in the spinal cord of those animals receiving optogenetic stimulation. The intraspinal corticospinal axonal sprouting correlated with the forelimb functional recovery. Thus, specific neuromodulation of the cortical neural circuits induced massive neural reorganization both in the motor cortex and spinal cord, constructing an alternative motor pathway in restoring impaired forelimb function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Tyler Nguyen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Josue D Ordaz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Yi Ping Zhang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, United States of America
| | - Nai-Kui Liu
- Neurological Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University Medical Center, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Xinhua Hu
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Yuxiang Liu
- Department of Mechanical & Materials Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, United States of America
| | - Xingjie Ping
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Qi Han
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Xiangbing Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Wenrui Qu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Sujuan Gao
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Christopher B Shields
- Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare, Louisville, United States of America
| | - Xiaoming Jin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, United States of America
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Tai W, Wu W, Wang LL, Ni H, Chen C, Yang J, Zang T, Zou Y, Xu XM, Zhang CL. In vivo reprogramming of NG2 glia enables adult neurogenesis and functional recovery following spinal cord injury. Cell Stem Cell 2021; 28:923-937.e4. [PMID: 33675690 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis plays critical roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and responding to neurogenic insults. However, the adult mammalian spinal cord lacks an intrinsic capacity for neurogenesis. Here we show that spinal cord injury (SCI) unveils a latent neurogenic potential of NG2+ glial cells, which can be exploited to produce new neurons and promote functional recovery after SCI. Although endogenous SOX2 is required for SCI-induced transient reprogramming, ectopic SOX2 expression is necessary and sufficient to unleash the full neurogenic potential of NG2 glia. Ectopic SOX2-induced neurogenesis proceeds through an expandable ASCL1+ progenitor stage and generates excitatory and inhibitory propriospinal neurons, which make synaptic connections with ascending and descending spinal pathways. Importantly, SOX2-mediated reprogramming of NG2 glia reduces glial scarring and promotes functional recovery after SCI. These results reveal a latent neurogenic potential of somatic glial cells, which can be leveraged for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Tai
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Wei Wu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Lei-Lei Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
| | - Haoqi Ni
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Chunhai Chen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jianjing Yang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Tong Zang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Yuhua Zou
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neuroscience Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Chun-Li Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Hamon Center for Regenerative Science and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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Huang ZH, Feng AY, Liu J, Zhou L, Zhou B, Yu P. Inhibitor of DNA binding 2 accelerates nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in mice. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:2542-2548. [PMID: 33907046 PMCID: PMC8374553 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.313054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (Id2) can promote axonal regeneration after injury of the central nervous system. However, whether Id2 can promote axonal regeneration and functional recovery after peripheral nerve injury is currently unknown. In this study, we established a mouse model of bilateral sciatic nerve crush injury. Two weeks before injury, AAV9-Id2-3×Flag-GFP was injected stereotaxically into the bilateral ventral horn of lumbar spinal cord. Our results showed that Id2 was successfully delivered into spinal cord motor neurons projecting to the sciatic nerve, and the number of regenerated motor axons in the sciatic nerve distal to the crush site was increased at 2 weeks after injury, arriving at the tibial nerve and reinnervating a few endplates in the gastrocnemius muscle. By 1 month after injury, extensive neuromuscular reinnervation occurred. In addition, the amplitude of compound muscle action potentials of the gastrocnemius muscle was markedly recovered, and their latency was shortened. These findings suggest that Id2 can accelerate axonal regeneration, promote neuromuscular reinnervation, and enhance functional improvement following sciatic nerve injury. Therefore, elevating the level of Id2 in adult neurons may present a promising strategy for peripheral nerve repair following injury. The study was approved by the Experimental Animal Ethics Committee of Jinan University (approval No. 20160302003) on March 2, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Hai Huang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of Central Nervous System Regeneration; Ministry of Education Joint International Research Laboratory of Central Nervous System Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Ai-Ying Feng
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of Central Nervous System Regeneration; Ministry of Education Joint International Research Laboratory of Central Nervous System Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of Central Nervous System Regeneration; Ministry of Education Joint International Research Laboratory of Central Nervous System Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Libing Zhou
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of Central Nervous System Regeneration; Ministry of Education Joint International Research Laboratory of Central Nervous System Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Bing Zhou
- Interdisciplinary Innovation Institute of Medicine and Engineering, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Panpan Yu
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of Central Nervous System Regeneration; Ministry of Education Joint International Research Laboratory of Central Nervous System Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
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Züchner M, Lervik A, Kondratskaya E, Bettembourg V, Zhang L, Haga HA, Boulland JL. Development of a Multimodal Apparatus to Generate Biomechanically Reproducible Spinal Cord Injuries in Large Animals. Front Neurol 2019; 10:223. [PMID: 30941086 PMCID: PMC6433700 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodents are widespread animal models in spinal cord injury (SCI) research. They have contributed to obtaining important information. However, some treatments only tested in rodents did not prove efficient in clinical trials. This is probably a result of significant differences in the physiology, anatomy, and complexity between humans and rodents. To bridge this gap in a better way, a few research groups use pig models for SCI. Here we report the development of an apparatus to perform biomechanically reproducible SCI in large animals, including pigs. We present the iterative process of engineering, starting with a weight-drop system to ultimately produce a spring-load impactor. This device allows a graded combination of a contusion and a compression injury. We further engineered a device to entrap the spinal cord and prevent it from escaping at the moment of the impact. In addition, it provides identical resistance around the cord, thereby, optimizing the inter-animal reproducibility. We also present other tools to straighten the vertebral column and to ease the surgery. Sensors mounted on the impactor provide information to assess the inter-animal reproducibility of the impacts. Further evaluation of the injury strength using neurophysiological recordings, MRI scans, and histology shows consistency between impacts. We conclude that this apparatus provides biomechanically reproducible spinal cord injuries in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Züchner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.,Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Andreas Lervik
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elena Kondratskaya
- Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vanessa Bettembourg
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Lili Zhang
- Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Henning A Haga
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jean-Luc Boulland
- Norwegian Center for Stem Cell Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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Wu X, Zhang YP, Qu W, Shields LBE, Shields CB, Xu XM. A Tissue Displacement-based Contusive Spinal Cord Injury Model in Mice. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28654063 PMCID: PMC5608444 DOI: 10.3791/54988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Producing a consistent and reproducible contusive spinal cord injury (SCI) is critical to minimizing behavioral and histological variabilities between experimental animals. Several contusive SCI models have been developed to produce injuries using different mechanisms. The severity of the SCI is based on the height that a given weight is dropped, the injury force, or the spinal cord displacement. In the current study, we introduce a novel mouse contusive SCI device, the Louisville Injury System Apparatus (LISA) impactor, which can create a displacement-based SCI with high injury velocity and accuracy. This system utilizes laser distance sensors combined with advanced software to produce graded and highly-reproducible injuries. We performed a contusive SCI at the 10th thoracic vertebral (T10) level in mice to demonstrate the step-by-step procedure. The model can also be applied to the cervical and lumbar spinal levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangbing Wu
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | | | - Wenrui Qu
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | | | - Christopher B Shields
- Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare; Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville;
| | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine;
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The mTOR Substrate S6 Kinase 1 (S6K1) Is a Negative Regulator of Axon Regeneration and a Potential Drug Target for Central Nervous System Injury. J Neurosci 2017. [PMID: 28626016 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0931-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) positively regulates axon growth in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Although axon regeneration and functional recovery from CNS injuries are typically limited, knockdown or deletion of PTEN, a negative regulator of mTOR, increases mTOR activity and induces robust axon growth and regeneration. It has been suggested that inhibition of S6 kinase 1 (S6K1, gene symbol: RPS6KB1), a prominent mTOR target, would blunt mTOR's positive effect on axon growth. In contrast to this expectation, we demonstrate that inhibition of S6K1 in CNS neurons promotes neurite outgrowth in vitro by twofold to threefold. Biochemical analysis revealed that an mTOR-dependent induction of PI3K signaling is involved in mediating this effect of S6K1 inhibition. Importantly, treating female mice in vivo with PF-4708671, a selective S6K1 inhibitor, stimulated corticospinal tract regeneration across a dorsal spinal hemisection between the cervical 5 and 6 cord segments (C5/C6), increasing axon counts for at least 3 mm beyond the injury site at 8 weeks after injury. Concomitantly, treatment with PF-4708671 produced significant locomotor recovery. Pharmacological targeting of S6K1 may therefore constitute an attractive strategy for promoting axon regeneration following CNS injury, especially given that S6K1 inhibitors are being assessed in clinical trials for nononcological indications.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Despite mTOR's well-established function in promoting axon regeneration, the role of its downstream target, S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), has been unclear. We used cellular assays with primary neurons to demonstrate that S6K1 is a negative regulator of neurite outgrowth, and a spinal cord injury model to show that it is a viable pharmacological target for inducing axon regeneration. We provide mechanistic evidence that S6K1's negative feedback to PI3K signaling is involved in axon growth inhibition, and show that phosphorylation of S6K1 is a more appropriate regeneration indicator than is S6 phosphorylation.
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Walker MJ, Walker CL, Zhang YP, Shields LBE, Shields CB, Xu XM. A novel vertebral stabilization method for producing contusive spinal cord injury. J Vis Exp 2015:e50149. [PMID: 25590284 PMCID: PMC4354509 DOI: 10.3791/50149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinically-relevant animal cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) models are essential for developing and testing potential therapies; however, producing reliable cervical SCI is difficult due to lack of satisfactory methods of vertebral stabilization. The conventional method to stabilize the spine is to suspend the rostral and caudal cervical spine via clamps attached to cervical spinous processes. However, this method of stabilization fails to prevent tissue yielding during the contusion as the cervical spinal processes are too short to be effectively secured by the clamps (Figure 1). Here we introduce a new method to completely stabilize the cervical vertebra at the same level of the impact injury. This method effectively minimizes movement of the spinal column at the site of impact, which greatly improves the production of consistent SCIs. We provide visual description of the equipment (Figure 2-4), methods, and a step-by-step protocol for the stabilization of the cervical 5 vertebra (C5) of adult rats, to perform laminectomy (Figure 5) and produce a contusive SCI thereafter. Although we only demonstrate a cervical hemi-contusion using the NYU/MASCIS impactor device, this vertebral stabilization technique can be applied to other regions of the spinal cord, or be adapted to other SCI devices. Improving spinal cord exposure and fixation through vertebral stabilization may be valuable for producing consistent and reliable injuries to the spinal cord. This vertebral stabilization method can also be used for stereotactic injections of cells and tracers, and for imaging using two-photon microscopy in various neurobiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Walker
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine; Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Chandler L Walker
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine
| | - Y Ping Zhang
- Norton Neuroscience Institute, Norton Healthcare
| | | | | | - Xiao-Ming Xu
- Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Group, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Department of Neurological Surgery and Goodman and Campbell Brain and Spine, Indiana University School of Medicine; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine;
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Evans TA, Barkauskas DS, Myers JT, Huang AY. Intravital imaging of axonal interactions with microglia and macrophages in a mouse dorsal column crush injury. J Vis Exp 2014:e52228. [PMID: 25489963 PMCID: PMC4275021 DOI: 10.3791/52228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic spinal cord injury causes an inflammatory reaction involving blood-derived macrophages and central nervous system (CNS)-resident microglia. Intra-vital two-photon microscopy enables the study of macrophages and microglia in the spinal cord lesion in the living animal. This can be performed in adult animals with a traumatic injury to the dorsal column. Here, we describe methods for distinguishing macrophages from microglia in the CNS using an irradiation bone marrow chimera to obtain animals in which only macrophages or microglia are labeled with a genetically encoded green fluorescent protein. We also describe a injury model that crushes the dorsal column of the spinal cord, thereby producing a simple, easily accessible, rectangular lesion that is easily visualized in an animal through a laminectomy. Furthermore, we will outline procedures to sequentially image the animals at the anatomical site of injury for the study of cellular interactions during the first few days to weeks after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa A Evans
- Department of Neurosciences, Case Western Reserve University
| | | | - Jay T Myers
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University
| | - Alex Y Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University;
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