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How spinalized rats can walk: biomechanics, cortex, and hindlimb muscle scaling--implications for rehabilitation
Journal article   Open access

How spinalized rats can walk: biomechanics, cortex, and hindlimb muscle scaling--implications for rehabilitation

Simon F Giszter, Greg Hockensmith, Arun Ramakrishnan and Ubong Ime Udoekwere
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, v 1198(1)
Jun 2010
PMID: 20536943
url
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05534.xView
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Animals, Newborn Hindlimb Body Weight Humans Rats Biomechanical Phenomena - physiology Muscle, Skeletal - innervation Muscle, Skeletal - physiology Body Patterning - physiology Cerebral Cortex - physiopathology Walking - physiology Weight-Bearing - physiology Animals Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology Spinal Cord - physiology Adult Cerebral Cortex - physiology Spinal Cord Injuries - rehabilitation Spinal Cord - physiopathology Spinal Cord Injuries - physiopathology Locomotion - physiology
Neonatal spinalized (NST) rats can achieve autonomous weight-supported locomotion never seen after adult injury. Mechanisms that support function in NST rats include increased importance of cortical trunk control and altered biomechanical control strategies for stance and locomotion. Hindlimbs are isolated from perturbations in quiet stance and act in opposition to forelimbs in locomotion in NST rats. Control of roll and yaw of the hindlimbs is crucial in their locomotion. The biomechanics of the hind limbs of NST rats are also likely crucial. We present new data showing the whole leg musculature scales proportional to normal rat musculature in NST rats, regardless of function. This scaling is a prerequisite for the NST rats to most effectively use pattern generation mechanisms and motor patterns that are similar to those present in intact rats. Pattern generation may be built into the lumbar spinal cord by evolution and matched to the limb biomechanics, so preserved muscle scaling may be essential to the NST function observed.

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