title: Independent evaluation of the anatomical and behavioral effects of Taxol in rat models of spinal cord injury.
abstract: The goal of the current manuscript was to replicate published data that show intrathecal infusions of Taxol® (paclitaxel), an anti-neoplastic microtubule stabilizing agent, reduce fibrogliotic scarring caused by a dorsal spinal hemisection (DHx) injury and increase functional recovery and growth of serotonergic axons after moderate spinal contusion injury. These experiments were completed as part of an NIH-NINDS contract entitled "Facilities of Research Excellence in Spinal Cord Injury (FORE-SCI) - Replication". Here, data are presented that confirm the anti-scarring effects of Taxol after DHx injury; however, Taxol did not confer neuroprotection or promote serotonergic axon growth nor did it improve functional recovery in a model of moderate spinal contusion injury. Thus, only partial replication was achieved. Possible explanations for disparate results in our studies and published data are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address: phillip.popovich@osumc.edu.
authors.forename: Phillip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Popovich
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: C Amy
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tovar
authors.affiliation: Division of Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Stanley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lemeshow
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, USA; Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Lyn B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Jakeman
mesh_terms: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino / Q000378:metabolism; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000378:metabolism; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4
chemical_list: D000599:Amino Acids, Diamino; D000941:Antigens; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D005353:Fibronectins; D017239:Paclitaxel; D011509:Proteoglycans; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D000099216:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan 4; C045397:laminine
keywords: Axon; Behavior; Contusion; Hemisection; Microtubule; Regeneration; Replication; Scar formation; Serotonin; Spinal cord injury