Locomotor recovery following subtotal spinal cord lesions in a rat model.
Locomotor function is described over 4 weeks in adult rats recovering from mid-thoracic spinal cord lesions, sparing the left lateral and/or ventral funiculus. A composite locomotor score was developed to follow changes by grading the swing and stance phases of locomotion, hindleg struggling withdrawal, and hopping. Motor recovery was more rapid in left than right hindlegs, consistent with sparing of left supraspinal pathways. Two temporal phases of recovery were noted in some animals, perhaps arising from two different recovery mechanisms. Motor recovery in the right hindleg was similar whether a left lateral or ventral funiculus was spared.
Little
J W
JW
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.
Harris
R M
RM
Sohlberg
R C
RC
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*