Optogenetically stimulating intact rat corticospinal tract post-stroke restores motor control through regionalized functional circuit formation.

ABSTRACT: Current neuromodulatory strategies to enhance motor recovery after stroke often target large brain areas non-specifically and without sufficient understanding of their interaction with internal repair mechanisms. Here we developed a novel therapeutic approach by specifically activating corticospinal circuitry using optogenetics after large strokes in rats. Similar to a neuronal growth-promoting immunotherapy, optogenetic stimulation together with intense, scheduled rehabilitation leads to the restoration of lost movement patterns rather than induced compensatory actions, as revealed by a computer vision-based automatic behavior analysis. Optogenetically activated corticospinal neurons promote axonal sprouting from the intact to the denervated cervical hemi-cord. Conversely, optogenetically

SUBMITTER: Wahl AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5662731 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature