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University of Kentucky

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Diaphragm

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Rapid And Robust Restoration Of Breathing Long After Spinal Cord Injury, Philippa M. Warren, Stephanie C. Steiger, Thomas E. Dick, Peter M. Macfarlane, Warren J. Alilain, Jerry Silver Nov 2018

Rapid And Robust Restoration Of Breathing Long After Spinal Cord Injury, Philippa M. Warren, Stephanie C. Steiger, Thomas E. Dick, Peter M. Macfarlane, Warren J. Alilain, Jerry Silver

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

There exists an abundance of barriers that hinder functional recovery following spinal cord injury, especially at chronic stages. Here, we examine the rescue of breathing up to 1.5 years following cervical hemisection in the rat. In spite of complete hemidiaphragm paralysis, a single injection of chondroitinase ABC in the phrenic motor pool restored robust and persistent diaphragm function while improving neuromuscular junction anatomy. This treatment strategy was more effective when applied chronically than when assessed acutely after injury. The addition of intermittent hypoxia conditioning further strengthened the ventilatory response. However, in a sub-population of animals, this combination treatment caused excess …


A Latent Propriospinal Network Can Restore Diaphragm Function After High Cervical Spinal Cord Injury, Jared M. Cregg, Kevin A. Chu, Lydia E. Hager, Rachel S. J. Maggard, Daimen R. Stoltz, Michaela Edmond, Warren J. Alilain, Polyxeni Philippidou, Lynn T. Landmesser, Jerry Silver Oct 2017

A Latent Propriospinal Network Can Restore Diaphragm Function After High Cervical Spinal Cord Injury, Jared M. Cregg, Kevin A. Chu, Lydia E. Hager, Rachel S. J. Maggard, Daimen R. Stoltz, Michaela Edmond, Warren J. Alilain, Polyxeni Philippidou, Lynn T. Landmesser, Jerry Silver

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Spinal cord injury (SCI) above cervical level 4 disrupts descending axons from the medulla that innervate phrenic motor neurons, causing permanent paralysis of the diaphragm. Using an ex vivo preparation in neonatal mice, we have identified an excitatory spinal network that can direct phrenic motor bursting in the absence of medullary input. After complete cervical SCI, blockade of fast inhibitory synaptic transmission caused spontaneous, bilaterally coordinated phrenic bursting. Here, spinal cord glutamatergic neurons were both sufficient and necessary for the induction of phrenic bursts. Direct stimulation of phrenic motor neurons was insufficient to evoke burst activity. Transection and pharmacological manipulations …