Pericontusion axon sprouting is spatially and temporally consistent with a growth-permissive environment after traumatic brain injury.

ABSTRACT: We previously reported that pericontusional extracellular chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) are profoundly reduced for 3 weeks after experimental traumatic brain injury, indicating a potential growth-permissive window for plasticity. Here, we investigate the extracellular environment of sprouting neurons after controlled cortical impact injury in adult rats to determine the spatial and temporal arrangement of inhibitory and growth-promoting molecules in relation to growth-associated protein 43-positive (GAP43+) neurons. Spontaneous cortical sprouting was maximal in pericontused regions at 7 and 14 days after injury but absent by 28 days. Perineuronal nets containing CSPGs were reduced at 7 days after injury in the pericontused region (p < 0.05), which was commensurate with a reduct

SUBMITTER: Harris NG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2821052 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature