An experimental study of neuronal activation through body-weight-supposed treadmill training after spinal cord injury using laser confocal microscopy / 中华物理医学与康复杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of locomotor training on improving locomotor function after spinal cord injury(SCI)and the mechanism of spinal cord plasticity.Methods A model of complete thoracic cord transection was established using 84 adult female rats divided into sham,SCI and treadmill training(BWSTT) groups.The hind limb locomotor function of all the rats was evaluated.The fluorescence intensities due to (EphA4),vesicular glutamate transporter 2(VGluT2)and EphA4/VGluT2 double-positive neurons in the ventromedial area of the anterior horn of the lumbar COrd were detected using immunofluorescence double labeling and laser confocal microscopy.Results The rats in the BWSTT group showed better functional recovery in their hind limbs than those in the SCI group.BWSTT was correlated with markedly increased EphA4.VGIuT2 and EphA4/VGluT2 intensities in the ventromedial area.Conclusion BWSTT improves hind limb locomotor function in rats with thoracic cord transections by elevating the expression of EphA4/VGluT2,promoting neuronal plasticity in the lumbar anterior horn.