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Respiratory function following bilateral mid-cervical contusion injury in the adult rat
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Respiratory function following bilateral mid-cervical contusion injury in the adult rat

Michael A. Lane, Kun-Ze Lee, Krystal Salazar, Barbara E. O'Steen, David C. Bloom, David D. Fuller and Paul J. Reier
Experimental neurology, v 235(1), pp 197-210
01 May 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.09.024
PMID: 21963673
Featured in Collection :   UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
url
https://europepmc.org/articles/pmc3270207?pdf=renderView
Accepted (AM)Open Access (License Unspecified),  Open

Abstract

Life Sciences & Biomedicine Neurosciences Neurosciences & Neurology Science & Technology
The consequences of spinal cord injury (SCI) are often viewed as the result of white matter damage. However, injuries occurring at any spinal level, especially in cervical and lumbar enlargement regions, also entail segmental neuronal loss. Yet, the contributions of gray matter injury and plasticity to functional outcomes are poorly understood. The present study addressed this issue by investigating changes in respiratory function following bilateral C-3/C-4 contusion injuries at the level of the phrenic motoneuron (PhMN) pool which in the adult rat extends from C-3 CO C-5/6 and provides innervation to the diaphragm. Despite extensive white and gray matter pathology associated with two magnitudes of injury severity, ventilation was relatively unaffected during both quiet breathing and respiratory challenge (hypercapnia). On the other hand, bilateral diaphragm EMG recordings revealed that the ability to increase diaphragm activity during respiratory challenge was substantially, and chronically, impaired. This deficit has not been seen following predominantly white matter lesions at higher cervical levels. Thus, the impact of gray matter damage relative to PhMNs and/or interneurons becomes evident during conditions associated with increased respiratory drive. Unaltered ventilatory behavior, despite significant deficits in diaphragm function, suggests compensatory neuroplasticity involving recruitment of other spinal respiratory networks which may entail remodeling of connections. Transynaptic tracing, using pseudorabies virus (PRV), revealed changes in PhMN-related interneuronal labeling rostral to the site of injury, thus offering insight into the potential anatomical reorganization and spinal plasticity following cervical contusion. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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