Ampakines Stimulate Diaphragm Activity after Spinal Cord Injury

This research investigates the potential of ampakines, drugs that enhance brain activity, to improve breathing after a spinal cord injury (SCI). SCI often impairs respiratory function, leading to difficulties in breathing, coughing, and physical exertion. The study uses a rat model of cervical SCI to test whether low doses of two specific ampakines (CX717 and CX1739) can increase diaphragm muscle activity, which is essential for breathing. The findings suggest that ampakines can indeed stimulate diaphragm activity after SCI, potentially offering a new pharmacological approach to aid respiratory rehabilitation.

• 1
  Both CX717 and CX1739 increased diaphragm EMG output ipsilateral to C2Hx during both baseline breathing and acute respiratory challenge at 4 days post-injury.
• 2
  At 14 days post-injury, both ampakines produced sustained increases in ipsilateral diaphragm EMG output and enabled increased output during the respiratory challenge.
• 3
  CX1739-treated rats showed an increase in ipsilateral diaphragm EMGpeak activity that remained elevated up to 40 min after the hypoxia exposure.