Neurite growth inhibitors restrict plasticity and functional recovery following corticospinal tract lesions.
Anatomical plasticity and functional recovery after lesions of the rodent corticospinal tract (CST) decrease postnatally in parallel with myelin formation. Myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitory proteins prevent regenerative fiber growth, but whether they also prevent reactive sprouting of unlesioned fibers is less clear. Here we show that after unilateral CST lesion in the adult rat brainstem, both intact and lesioned tracts show topographically appropriate sprouting after treatment with a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes these inhibitory proteins. Antibody-treated animals showed full recovery in motor and sensory tests, whereas untreated lesioned rats exhibited persistent severe deficits. Neutralization of myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitors thus restores in adults the structural plasticity and functional recovery normally found only at perinatal ages.
Thallmair
M
M
Brain Research Institute, University of Zürich, Switzerland. thallm@hifo.unizh.ch
Metz
G A
GA
Z'Graggen
W J
WJ
Raineteau
O
O
Kartje
G L
GL
Schwab
M E
ME
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000502:physiology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006131:Growth Inhibitors