title: Novel multi-system functional gains via task specific training in spinal cord injured male rats.
abstract: Locomotor training (LT) after spinal cord injury (SCI) is a rehabilitative therapy used to enhance locomotor recovery. There is evidence, primarily anecdotal, also associating LT with improvements in bladder function and reduction in some types of SCI-related pain. In the present study, we determined if a step training paradigm could improve outcome measures of locomotion, bladder function, and pain/allodynia. After a T10 contusive SCI trained animals (adult male Wistar rats), trained animals began quadrupedal step training beginning 2 weeks post-SCI for 1 h/day. End of study experiments (3 months of training) revealed significant changes in limb kinematics, gait, and hindlimb flexor-extensor bursting patterns relative to non-trained controls. Importantly, micturition function, evaluated with terminal transvesical cystometry, was significantly improved in the step trained group (increased voiding efficiency, intercontraction interval, and contraction amplitude). Because both SCI and LT affect neurotrophin signaling, and neurotrophins are involved with post-SCI plasticity in micturition pathways, we measured bladder neurotrophin mRNA. Training regulated the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) but not BDNF or NT3. Bladder NGF mRNA levels were inversely related to bladder function in the trained group. Monitoring of overground locomotion and neuropathic pain throughout the study revealed significant improvements, beginning after 3 weeks of training, which in both cases remained consistent for the study duration. These novel findings, improving non-locomotor in addition to locomotor functions, demonstrate that step training post-SCI could contribute to multiple quality of life gains, targeting patient-centered high priority deficits.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville , Louisville, Kentucky.
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: April N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Herrity
authors.forename: Rebecca R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Willhite
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Jeffrey C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Petruska
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Harkema
authors.forename: Charles H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Hubscher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004576:Electromyography; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor