title: Spinal cord transection induced c-fos protein in the rat motor cortex.
abstract: Spinal cord transection at the middle thoracic level induced the expression of c-Fos protein in the rat motor cortex detected with the immunohistochemical study. At 1 h after transection, maximal expression of c-Fos was seen in the frontal cortex and hindlimb area of the cortex. c-Fos-like immunoreactive neurons were recognized in the second to sixth layers of these cortices, although the axotomized neurons were located only in the fifth layer of these cortices. A significant difference of c-Fos-like protein expression was observed between the spinal transected group and the sham operated group 1 h after the operation. These results indicate that each layer of the motor cortical column is activated and that there is a correlation between alteration of the neuronal network and functional plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Kagoshima University, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Japan. ikedas@med5.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D002818:Cordotomy; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos