Exp Neurol, 2021 · DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113832 · Published: December 1, 2021
This study investigated the survival of phrenic motor neurons (PMNs) after a specific type of spinal cord injury (C2Hx) in rats. The researchers used a technique called retrograde tracing to label and track PMNs and found that C2Hx did not cause a significant loss of these neurons at either 2 or 8 weeks post-injury. They also looked at the levels of two proteins, NeuN and ChAT, in the PMNs and found no significant changes after the injury, suggesting that the injury did not affect these markers in the surviving neurons.
The survival of phrenic motor neurons after C2Hx supports the potential for therapeutic strategies aimed at inducing plasticity and regeneration within the phrenic motor system.
The findings validate the use of the C2Hx model for studying spontaneous and induced plasticity within the phrenic motor system.
Confirmation of phrenic motor neuron survival at chronic post-injury time-points suggests a robust population of neurons available as targets for therapeutic intervention to improve breathing function.