Thoracic Rat Spinal Cord Contusion Injury Induces Remote Spinal Gliogenesis but Not Neurogenesis or Gliogenesis in the Brain

PLoS ONE, 2014 · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0102896 · Published: July 22, 2014

Spinal Cord Injury Neurology Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

Following a spinal cord injury, the body's ability to repair itself is limited. This study looks at whether the brain or spinal cord can generate new cells to help with recovery after a spinal cord injury in rats. The researchers examined specific areas of the brain (subventricular zone, corpus callosum, hippocampus, and motor cortex) and the cervical spinal cord to see if new neurons or glial cells were being produced after a thoracic spinal cord injury. The findings indicate that while there was an increase in glial cell production in the cervical spinal cord, there was no evidence of new neuron generation in the brain or spinal cord that could explain the spontaneous recovery observed in the rats.

Study Duration

6 weeks

Participants

20 adult female Fischer 344 rats

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Thoracic spinal cord contusion injury induces complete paresis of both hindlimbs in rats.
2
Spontaneous locomotor recovery occurred over six weeks post-injury.
3
Gliogenesis was increased in the cervical spinal cord remote from the injury site.

Research Summary

This study investigated cell proliferation and neurogenesis in remote CNS areas following a contusion injury in rats to understand spontaneous locomotor recovery. The study found no evidence of neurogenesis in the motor cortex or corpus callosum and no changes in neurogenesis in the subventricular zone and hippocampus after spinal cord injury. Increased glial cell renewal was observed in the cervical spinal cord, but its functional relevance to spontaneous recovery remains undetermined.

Practical Implications

Understanding Cell Replacement

Clarifies the limited role of neurogenesis in spontaneous recovery after spinal cord injury, suggesting other mechanisms are more critical.

Focus on Gliogenesis

Highlights the potential role of glial cell replacement in the cervical spinal cord and warrants further investigation.

Therapeutic Strategies

Directs future research towards therapies that promote glial cell function or axonal sprouting rather than focusing solely on neurogenesis.

Study Limitations

1
The time window between neural progenitor generation and analysis of neuronal fate (BrdU/NeuN co-localization) was much shorter - 38 days.
2
The quantity of SVZ neurogenesis destined to replace cortical neurons might be too low to be identifiable in the current experimental setting.
3
The true functional relevance of the observed glial replacement in spinal regions distant from the injury site is unknown.

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