Spinal transection induces widespread proliferation of cells along the length of the spinal cord in a weakly electric fish

Brain Behav Evol, 2012 · DOI: 10.1159/000342485 · Published: January 1, 2012

Spinal Cord Injury Regenerative Medicine Neurology

Simple Explanation

This study examined cell proliferation and survival following complete spinal cord transection in the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Fish were given a single bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) injection immediately after spinal transection or sham surgery to quantify cell proliferation. Spinal transection significantly increased the density of BrdU+ cells along the entire length of the spinal cord at 1 day post transection.

Study Duration

1-30 days

Participants

40 brown ghost knifefish

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Spinal cord transection significantly increased the density of BrdU+ cells along the entire length of the spinal cord at 1 day post transection (dpt), and most newly generated cells survived up to 14 dpt.
2
At 14 dpt, BrdU+ cells were abundant at all levels of the spinal cord.
3
By 30 dpt, the density of BrdU+ cells decreased at all levels of the spinal cord except at the tip of the tail.

Research Summary

The present study examined proliferation and survival of cells following complete spinal cord transection rather than tail amputation in the weakly electric fish Apteronotus leptorhynchus. Spinal transection significantly increased proliferation and/or survival, as indicated by an elevated density of BrdU+ cells in the spinal cords of spinally transected compared to sham-operated and intact fish. Our findings indicate that spinal cord transection stimulates widespread cellular proliferation; however, there were regional differences in the survival of the newly generated cells.

Practical Implications

Understanding Spinal Cord Regeneration

The study provides insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying spinal cord regeneration in teleost fish, which may have implications for understanding and promoting regeneration in other species.

Potential Therapeutic Targets

Identifying the factors that regulate cellular proliferation and survival after spinal cord injury could lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for spinal cord injuries.

Comparative Neurobiology

Comparing the regenerative capacity of different species can help elucidate the evolutionary basis of spinal cord regeneration and identify conserved mechanisms.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on a single species of weakly electric fish, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other species.
2
The mechanisms underlying the regional differences in cell survival were not fully elucidated.
3
The fate and connectivity of newly generated cells after spinal transection were not fully investigated.

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