title: Early application of tail nerve electrical stimulation-induced walking training promotes locomotor recovery in rats with spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  This is a randomized controlled prospective trial with two parallel groups.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine whether early application of tail nerve electrical stimulation (TANES)-induced walking training can improve the locomotor function.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted in SCS Research Center in Colorado, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A contusion injury to spinal cord T10 was produced using the New York University impactor device with a 25 -mm height setting in female, adult Long-Evans rats. Injured rats were randomly divided into two groups (n=12 per group). One group was subjected to TANES-induced walking training 2 weeks post injury, and the other group, as control, received no TANES-induced walking training. Restorations of behavior and conduction were assessed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan open-field rating scale, horizontal ladder rung walking test and electrophysiological test (Hoffmann reflex).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Early application of TANES-induced walking training significantly improved the recovery of locomotor function and benefited the restoration of Hoffmann reflex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TANES-induced walking training is a useful method to promote locomotor recovery in rats with spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Cord Society Research Center, Spinal Cord Society, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: S-X
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Spinal Cord Society Research Center, Spinal Cord Society, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Spinal Cord Society Research Center, Spinal Cord Society, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioelectronics Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Spinal Cord Society Research Center, Spinal Cord Society, Fort Collins, CO, USA.|Department of Chemistry University of Alaska, Anchorage, AK, USA.
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Holmberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013623:Tail / Q000294:innervation*