Confocal microscopic analysis reveals sprouting of primary afferent fibres in rat dorsal horn after spinal cord injury.
Following high thoracic spinal cord transection (SCT) in rats, abnormal changes in arterial pressure in response to sensory stimulation (autonomic dysreflexia) are correlated with changes in neural circuitry in the injured spinal cord. Anterograde transport of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to Texas Red (WGATR) and confocal microscopy were used to characterize the increased arbourization of Adelta and Abeta fibre populations in laminae III-V of the dorsal horn. In cord-injured animals, significantly greater areas of WGATR-labeled fibres were found in the deeper laminae of the dorsal horn than in control rats. This increased area likely reflects sprouting of the Adelta, Abeta, and possibly C fibre populations. The time course of sprouting matches the onset of autonomic dysreflexia, indicating a possible functional correlation between the two phenomena.
Wong
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Neurodegeneration Research Group, The John P. Robarts Research Institute, 100 Perth Drive, P.O. Box 5015, London, N6A 5K8, Ontario, Canada.
Atkinson
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BA
Weaver
L C
LC
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D001369:Axons / Q000473:pathology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000473:pathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000473:pathology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000473:pathology*; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D014966:Xanthenes
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D014966:Xanthenes; C034657:Texas red