A Latent Propriospinal Network Can Restore Diaphragm Function after High Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

ABSTRACT: 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 showed that this spinal network acts independently of medullary circuit

SUBMITTER: Cregg JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5687843 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature