Impact of treatment duration and lesion size on effectiveness of chondroitinase treatment post-SCI.
The effects of 2weeks of intralesional chondroitinase abc (ch'abc) treatment on anatomical plasticity and behavioral recovery are examined in adult cats and compared to results achieved with 4weeks of treatment following tightly controlled lateral hemisection injuries. Analyses also were completed using 35 cats with a range of hemisection magnitudes to assess relationships between treatment duration, lesion size and functional recovery. Results indicate that both 2 and 4weeks of treatment significantly increased the number of rubrospinal tract (RuST) neurons with axons below the lesion, but neither affected the number of corticospinal tract neurons. Similarly, both treatment periods also accelerated recovery of select motor tasks, which carries considerable importance with respect to human health care and rehabilitation. Four weeks of treatment promoted recovery beyond that seen with 2weeks in its significant impact on accuracy of movement critical for placement of the ipsilateral hindlimb onto small support surfaces during the most challenging locomotor tasks. Analyses, which extended to a larger group of cats with a range of lesion magnitudes, indicate that 4weeks of ch'abc treatment promoted earlier recovery as well as significantly greater targeting accuracy even in cats with larger lesions. Together, these results support the potential for ch'abc to promote anatomical and behavioral recovery and suggest that intraspinal treatment with ch'abc continues to enhance motor recovery and performance beyond the subacute injury period and diminishes the impact of lesion size.
Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
S E
SE
Mondello
Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
S C
SC
Jefferson
Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
N J
NJ
Tester
Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Robley Rex VA Medical Center, Louisville, KY 40206, United States; Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. Electronic address: drhowl01@louisville.edu.
D R
DR
Howland
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D002415:Cats; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000473:pathology; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013266:Stilbamidines; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D013266:Stilbamidines; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase
Adaptive movement; Chondroitinase abc; Corticospinal tract; Locomotion; Motor recovery; Plasticity; Rubrospinal tract; Spinal cord injury