Enteric glia promote functional recovery of CTM reflex after dorsal root transection.
Transected dorsal root axons of adult rats can be induced to regenerate through the normally non-permissive environment of the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) into the spinal cord by implanting enteric glia (EG) into the DREZ. We have now examined whether the regenerating central axons make functional connections by studying the return of function of a behavioral response, the cutaneous trunci muscle (CTM) reflex. Implantation of EG into the spinal cord DREZ led to functional recovery of the CTM reflex in 82%, 72% and 70% of animals 1, 2 and 3 months, respectively, after injury. In contrast, the CTM reflex did not recover in animals implanted with 3T3 or C6 glioma cells or with vehicle only.
Jiang
Shucui
S
Department of Medicine, McMaster University Health Sciences Centre 4N71, 1200 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5. jiangs@mcmaster.ca
Khan
Mohammad I
MI
Wang
Jian
J
Middlemiss
Pamela J
PJ
Werstiuk
Eva S
ES
Wickson
Ray
R
Rathbone
Michel P
MP
D016475:3T3 Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation; D000818:Animals; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007422:Intestines; D051379:Mice; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000502:physiology* / Q000637:transplantation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014180:Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000502:physiology / Q000637:transplantation
C035005:3,3'-dihexadecylindocarbocyanine; D002232:Carbocyanines; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein