scholarly journals Comprehensive Phenotyping of Cutaneous Afferents Reveals Rapid-Onset Alterations in Nociceptor Response Properties Following Spinal Cord Injury

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivia C Eller ◽  
Rena N Stair ◽  
Jennifer Nelson-Brantley ◽  
Erin E Young ◽  
Kyle M Baumbauer
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Thermal Sensitivity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rapid Onset ◽  
Spontaneous Pain ◽  
Thermal Thresholds ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a complex syndrome that has profound effects on patient well-being, including the development of medically-resistant chronic pain. The mechanisms underlying SCI pain have been the subject of thorough investigation but still remain poorly understood. While the majority of the research has focused on changes occurring within and surrounding the site of injury in the spinal cord, there is now a consensus that alterations within the peripheral nervous system, namely sensitization of nociceptors, contribute to the development and maintenance of chronic SCI pain. Here we demonstrate that thoracic spinal contusion injury results in the emergence of autotomy and spasticity, both indicators of spontaneous pain, in areas below the level of the injury within 24 hr of SCI. These behaviors were associated with hindpaw edema and elevated cutaneous calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) concentration. Electrophysiological recordings using an ex vivo skin/nerve/DRG/spinal cord preparation demonstrated that SCI increased mechanical and thermal sensitivity, as well as the incidence of spontaneous activity (SA) and afterdischarge (AD), in below-level C-fiber nociceptors 24 hr following injury. Interestingly, the distribution of nociceptors that exhibit SA and AD are not identical, and the development of SA was observed more frequently in nociceptors with low thermal thresholds, while AD was found more frequently in nociceptors with high thermal thresholds. These results demonstrate that SCI causes rapid-onset of peripheral inflammation-like processes that sensitize nociceptors, which may contribute to the early emergence and persistence of chronic SCI pain.

scholarly journals Sonic Hedgehog modulates the inflammatory response and improves functional recovery after spinal cord injury in a thoracic contusion–compression model

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Zhang ◽  
Alexander Younsi ◽  
Guoli Zheng ◽  
Mohamed Tail ◽  
Anna-Kathrin Harms ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sonic Hedgehog ◽  
Functional Recovery ◽  
Intrathecal Administration ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Shh Pathway ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Cord Injury

Abstract Purpose The Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway has been associated with a protective role after injury to the central nervous system (CNS). We, therefore, investigated the effects of intrathecal Shh-administration in the subacute phase after thoracic spinal cord injury (SCI) on secondary injury processes in rats. Methods Twenty-one Wistar rats were subjected to thoracic clip-contusion/compression SCI at T9. Animals were randomized into three treatment groups (Shh, Vehicle, Sham). Seven days after SCI, osmotic pumps were implanted for seven-day continuous intrathecal administration of Shh. Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) score, Gridwalk test and bodyweight were weekly assessed. Animals were sacrificed six weeks after SCI and immunohistological analyses were conducted. The results were compared between groups and statistical analysis was performed (p < 0.05 was considered significant). Results The intrathecal administration of Shh led to significantly increased polarization of macrophages toward the anti-inflammatory M2-phenotype, significantly decreased T-lymphocytic invasion and significantly reduced resident microglia six weeks after the injury. Reactive astrogliosis was also significantly reduced while changes in size of the posttraumatic cyst as well as the overall macrophagic infiltration, although reduced, remained insignificant. Finally, with the administration of Shh, gain of bodyweight (216.6 ± 3.65 g vs. 230.4 ± 5.477 g; p = 0.0111) and BBB score (8.2 ± 0.2 vs. 5.9 ± 0.7 points; p = 0.0365) were significantly improved compared to untreated animals six weeks after SCI as well. Conclusion Intrathecal Shh-administration showed neuroprotective effects with attenuated neuroinflammation, reduced astrogliosis and improved functional recovery six weeks after severe contusion/compression SCI.

Goal Striving and Maladaptive Coping in Adults Living With Spinal Cord Injury: Associations With Affective Well-Being

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Mackay ◽  
Susan T. Charles ◽  
Bryan Kemp ◽  
Jutta Heckhausen
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Maladaptive Coping ◽  
Goal Striving ◽  
Cord Injury

Drastic Decrease in Isoflurane Minimum Alveolar Concentration and Limb Movement Forces after Thoracic Spinal Cooling and Chronic Spinal Transection in Rats

2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (3) ◽  
pp. 624-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven L. Jinks ◽  
Carmen L. Dominguez ◽  
Joseph F. Antognini
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Minimum Alveolar Concentration ◽  
Tail Flick ◽  
Noxious Stimulation ◽  
Partial Recovery ◽  
Spinal Transection ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Stimulation Of

Background Individuals with spinal cord injury may undergo multiple surgical procedures; however, it is not clear how spinal cord injury affects anesthetic requirements and movement force under anesthesia during both acute and chronic stages of the injury. Methods The authors determined the isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) necessary to block movement in response to supramaximal noxious stimulation, as well as tail-flick and hind paw withdrawal latencies, before and up to 28 days after thoracic spinal transection. Tail-flick and hind paw withdrawal latencies were measured in the awake state to test for the presence of spinal shock or hyperreflexia. The authors measured limb forces elicited by noxious mechanical stimulation of a paw or the tail at 28 days after transection. Limb force experiments were also conducted in other animals that received a reversible spinal conduction block by cooling the spinal cord at the level of the eighth thoracic vertebra. Results A large decrease in MAC (to &lt;/= 40% of pretransection values) occurred after spinal transection, with partial recovery (to approximately 60% of control) at 14-28 days after transection. Awake tail-flick and hind paw withdrawal latencies were facilitated or unchanged, whereas reflex latencies under isoflurane were depressed or absent. However, at 80-90% of MAC, noxious stimulation of the hind paw elicited ipsilateral limb withdrawals in all animals. Hind limb forces were reduced (by &gt;/= 90%) in both chronic and acute cold-block spinal animals. Conclusions The immobilizing potency of isoflurane increases substantially after spinal transection, despite the absence of a baseline motor depression, or "spinal shock." Therefore, isoflurane MAC is determined by a spinal depressant action, possibly counteracted by a supraspinal facilitatory action. The partial recovery in MAC at later time points suggests that neuronal plasticity after spinal cord injury influences anesthetic requirements.

Thoracic spinal cord injury without major bone injury associated with ossification of the ligamentum flavum

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 174-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaaki Machino ◽  
Shiro Imagama ◽  
Keigo Ito ◽  
Kei Ando ◽  
Kazuyoshi Kobayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Ligamentum Flavum ◽  
Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽  
Thoracic Spinal ◽  
Bone Injury ◽  
Cord Injury

scholarly journals Cell viability in three ex vivo rat models of spinal cord injury

2018 ◽  
Vol 234 (2) ◽  
pp. 244-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azim Patar ◽  
Peter Dockery ◽  
Linda Howard ◽  
Siobhan S. McMahon
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Rat Models ◽  
Cord Injury
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