Effect of Graphene Nanoribbons (TexasPEG) on locomotor function recovery in a rat model of lumbar spinal cord transection

AbstractA spinal cord injury usually spares some components of the locomotor circuitry. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the midbrain locomotor region and epidural electrical stimulation of the lumbar spinal cord (EES) are being used to tap into this spared circuitry to enable locomotion in humans with spinal cord injury. While appealing, the potential synergy between DBS and EES remains unknown. Here, we report the synergistic facilitation of locomotion when DBS is combined with EES in a rat model of severe contusion spinal cord injury leading to leg paralysis. However, this synergy requires high amplitudes of DBS, which triggers forced locomotion associated with stress responses. To suppress these undesired responses, we link DBS to the intention to walk, decoded from cortical activity using a robust, rapidly calibrated unsupervised learning algorithm. This contingency amplifies the supraspinal descending command while empowering the rats into volitional walking. However, the resulting improvements may not outweigh the complex technological framework necessary to establish viable therapeutic conditions.

Download Full-text

Adaptations in Glutamate and Glycine Content within the Lumbar Spinal Cord Are Associated with the Generation of Novel Gait Patterns in Rats following Neonatal Spinal Cord Transection

Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1523/jneurosci.3499-11.2011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 31 (50) ◽

pp. 18598-18605 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M. J. Cantoria ◽

P. A. See ◽

H. Singh ◽

R. D. de Leon

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Transection ◽

Lumbar Spinal Cord ◽

Gait Patterns ◽

Lumbar Spinal ◽

Glycine Content

Download Full-text

Increased expression of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) in feline lumbar spinal cord after complete thoracic spinal cord transection

Journal of Neuroscience Research ◽

10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(20000415)60:2<219::aid-jnr11>3.0.co;2-f ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 60 (2) ◽

pp. 219-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Niranjala J.K. Tillakaratne ◽

Michelle Mouria ◽

Nurit B. Ziv ◽

Roland R. Roy ◽

V. Reggie Edgerton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Glutamate Decarboxylase ◽

Spinal Cord Transection ◽

Lumbar Spinal Cord ◽

Thoracic Spinal Cord ◽

Thoracic Spinal ◽

Lumbar Spinal

Download Full-text

Effects of Glycine Administration on Canine Experimental Spinal Spasticity and the Levels of Glycine, Glutamate, and Aspartate in the Lumbar Spinal Cord

Neurosurgery ◽

10.1227/00006123-197902000-00008 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 152-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

J. E. Smith ◽

P. V. Hall ◽

M. R. Galvin ◽

A. R. Jones ◽

R. L. Campbell

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

White Matter ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Spinal Cord Transection ◽

Lumbar Spinal Cord ◽

Central Gray Matter ◽

Central Gray ◽

Lumbar Spinal

Abstract Twelve female mongrel dogs were made paraplegic by midthoracic spinal cord transection. Beginning at 9 weeks posttransection, either glycine (50 mg/kg) or saline was injected intramuscularly each day and the signs of spinal spasticity were assessed clinically. After treating the dogs for 3 weeks, we removed the lumbar enlargement of each dog and microdissected it into gray and white areas which we assayed for glycine, glutamate, and aspartate content. Some of the clinical signs of spasticity improved in the animals injected with glycine compared to the saline-injected controls. The content of glycine was significantly elevated in the central gray matter and ventral medial white matter of the glycinetreated dogs. The levels of glutamate were also significantly elevated in the central, lateral ventral, and medial ventral gray matter and in the dorsal lateral and ventral medial white matter of the glycine-treated dogs. The possible role of these segmental putative neurotransmitters in spinal spasticity is discussed.

Download Full-text