title: Intercostal nerve nerve neurouma (PNS) implantation in spinal cord transection--enhancement of locomotor recovery.
abstract: In these studies 76 mature female dogs were used. The sinal cord was transected at T6 or T8. The intercostal nerve or nerves originating cephalic to the transection were inserted into the distal isolated cord close to the transection and plasma clot sutured to anchor the peripheral end of the nerve into the spinal cord. The transected isolated spinal cord at the mid thoracic level results in rear limb paralysis. The isolated distal transected spinal cord is capable producing complex, detailed locomotor functions. The anatomical substrate is produced by systems of interconnected interneurons in the lumbar spinal cord that forms the central pattern generators (CPG). The interneurons comprising (CPG) coordinates patterned movements of the rear limbs as flexion, extension, weight bearing, postural adjustments and alternating patterned limb movements. In the case of implantation of a peripheral nerve distal stump into the transected spinal cord the procedure enhances the function mediated by the central patterned generators (CPG) by training, conditioning and chemical and molecular treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Turbes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007367:Intercostal Nerves / Q000637:transplantation*; D008124:Locomotion; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000601:surgery*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*