Serotonergic innervation of respiratory motor nuclei after cervical spinal injury: impact of intermittent hypoxia

This research explores how nerve fibers containing serotonin, a chemical important for nerve function, regrow in the spinal cord after a neck injury. Specifically, it looks at nerve regrowth near the areas that control breathing muscles. The study also examines whether exposing the rats to periods of low oxygen (intermittent hypoxia, IH) can help or hinder this nerve regrowth. IH is similar to what happens in sleep apnea. The findings suggest that nerves do regrow after injury, but IH doesn't significantly change this regrowth. This information is important for developing therapies to improve breathing after spinal cord injuries.

• 1
  Spontaneous serotonergic reinnervation of the phrenic and intercostal motor nuclei is substantial 12 weeks post-C2Hx.
• 2
  Following injury, fewer but larger serotonergic structures characterized reinnervation of phrenic and intercostal motor nuclei.
• 3
  Ipsilateral phrenic reinnervation results from sprouting in spared crossed-spinal serotonergic pathways.