Epidural spinal cord stimulation improves motor function in rats with chemically induced parkinsonism

Neurorehabil Neural Repair, 2019 · DOI: 10.1177/1545968319876891 · Published: December 1, 2019

Simple Explanation

This study investigates whether epidural stimulation of the spinal cord can improve motor function in rats with Parkinson's disease. The underlying assumption is that the normal functional capacity of spinal networks is affected by supraspinal pathology associated with PD. Rats with induced parkinsonism showed severe motor deficits. However, during epidural stimulation, the rats were able to initiate stepping in a running wheel and demonstrated improved stepping quality. The research suggests that spinal cord stimulation can modulate spinal and supraspinal networks to improve motor deficits associated with Parkinson's disease, potentially offering a new therapeutic approach.

Study Duration

4 Weeks

Participants

14 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Rats with chemically induced parkinsonism (6-OHDA) showed significant motor deficits, including an inability to initiate stepping and abnormal gait patterns.
2
Epidural stimulation (eEmc) of the lumbosacral spinal cord facilitated the initiation of stepping in the running wheel and improved the quality of stepping on a treadmill in 6-OHDA rats.
3
The improvement in stepping quality with eEmc was associated with reduced dragging of the paw and more normal foot placement during the swing and stance phases of stepping.

Research Summary

The study examined the potential of epidural stimulation (eEmc) to improve motor deficits in rats with induced parkinsonism using a 6-OHDA lesion model. Results showed that eEmc enabled rats with parkinsonism to initiate stepping and improved the quality of their stepping, suggesting a modulation of spinal networks. The findings indicate that spinal cord stimulation could be a potential therapeutic intervention for motor deficits associated with Parkinson's disease.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

Spinal cord stimulation may offer a novel approach for improving motor function in Parkinson's disease patients, particularly those with gait and balance issues.

Improved understanding of PD mechanisms

The study sheds light on the role of spinal networks in PD-related motor deficits and how they can be modulated to improve function.

Development of new interventions

The findings can guide the development of targeted spinal cord stimulation protocols and combined therapies for Parkinson's disease.

Study Limitations

1
The mechanisms for PD-related deficits are not the same as those of 6-OHDA-related deficits.
2
None of these studies to date, however, provide clear mechanistic effects regarding the relative impact that can be attributed to spinal cord stimulation effects on spinal networks vs. via ascending projections to the brain.
3
Further studies will be needed to determine the spinal and supraspinal mechanisms that might contributed to improvement of motor function with spinal stimulation.

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