Plasticity of subcortical pathways promote recovery of skilled hand function in rats after corticospinal and rubrospinal tract injuries

This study investigates how rats recover hand function after injuries to the corticospinal and rubrospinal tracts, which are important for controlling skilled hand movements. Researchers damaged these tracts in rats and then used injections of chondroitinase-ABC to promote axonal sprouting and synapse formation. One group of rats received these injections along with daily rehabilitation, while the other group did not. The results showed that the rats receiving both treatments gradually regained their ability to reach and grasp objects. The reticulospinal tract, which is important for motor control, showed increased density and expansion in the treated group. This suggests that other spinal tracts can compensate for the damaged tracts and help with task-specific recovery.

• 1
  Rats with corticospinal and rubrospinal tract injuries can regain the ability to grasp objects with chondroitinase-ABC treatment and rehabilitation.
• 2
  Recovery of grasping ability was accompanied by increased density and expansion of reticulospinal tract projections.
• 3
  Sprouting within less-involved motor tracts can compensate for the loss of pathways associated with specific motor tasks.