title: Botulinum toxin: from spasticity reliever to a neuromotor re-learning tool.
abstract: Botulinum toxin is becoming increasingly popular as the drug of choice for relief of spasticity in a wide range of conditions, from stroke to strabismus to vaginismus. Besides this role as spasticity reliever, several recent clinical reports claim that in stroke, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury (SCI), and dystonias, BoTx brings about significant improvement in function--attributed to synaptic plasticity of the muscular afferents. The authors' research had shown that BoTx also generates synaptic plasticity in spinal alpha-motoneurons-interneurons. The article describes how BoTx facilitates relearning by Hebbian and Contrastive Hebbian modes and how it can be used as a neuro-relearning tool to enhance and hasten motor recovery in the aforementioned disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Dr. A.L. Mudaliar Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, India. krish_venk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Krishnan
mesh_terms: D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018726:Anti-Dyskinesia Agents; D001905:Botulinum Toxins