title: Axon regeneration and exercise-dependent plasticity after spinal cord injury.
abstract: Current dogma states that meaningful recovery of function after spinal cord injury (SCI) will likely require a combination of therapeutic interventions comprised of regenerative/neuroprotective transplants, addition of neurotrophic factors, elimination of inhibitory molecules, functional sensorimotor training, and/or stimulation of paralyzed muscles or spinal circuits. We routinely use (1) peripheral nerve grafts to support and direct axonal regeneration across an incomplete cervical or complete thoracic transection injury, (2) matrix modulation with chondroitinase (ChABC) to facilitate axonal extension beyond the distal graft-spinal cord interface, and (3) exercise, such as forced wheel walking, bicycling, or step training on a treadmill. We and others have demonstrated an increase in spinal cord levels of endogenous neurotrophic factors with exercise, which may be useful in facilitating elongation and/or synaptic activity of regenerating axons and plasticity of spinal neurons below the level of injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Spinal Cord Research Center, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA. jhoule@drexelmed.edu
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Houle
authors.forename: Marie-Pascale
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Côté
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation