Chondroitinase ABC treatment opens a window of opportunity for task-specific rehabilitation.
Chondroitinase ABC treatment promotes spinal cord plasticity. We investigated whether chondroitinase-induced plasticity combined with physical rehabilitation promotes recovery of manual dexterity in rats with cervical spinal cord injuries. Rats received a C4 dorsal funiculus cut followed by chondroitinase ABC or penicillinase as a control. They were assigned to two alternative rehabilitation procedures, the first reinforcing skilled reaching and the second reinforcing general locomotion. Chondroitinase treatment enhanced sprouting of corticospinal axons independently of the rehabilitation regime. Only the rats receiving the combination of chondroitinase and specific rehabilitation showed improved manual dexterity. Rats that received general locomotor rehabilitation were better at ladder walking, but had worse skilled-reaching abilities than rats that received no treatment. Our results indicate that chondroitinase treatment opens a window during which rehabilitation can promote recovery. However, only the trained skills are improved and other functions may be negatively affected.
García-Alías
Guillermo
G
Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Barkhuysen
Stanley
S
Buckle
Miranda
M
Fawcett
James W
JW
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005552:Forelimb; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009048:Motor Skills / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D026201:Musculoskeletal Manipulations / Q000379:methods*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase