Early recovery of neuronal functioning in the sensory cortex after nerve reconstruction surgery.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nerve reconstructive surgery induces a transient loss and a prolonged and a gradual return of sensory inputs to the brain. It is unknown whether, following this massive peripheral denervation, the brain will experience a prolonged period of severe, intrinsic dysfunction.

Objective

We aim to investigate the mechanisms of return of processing function in cortical neurons.

Methods

We used the whisker model in rats to evaluate the functional recovery in the somatosensory cortex after a nerve reconstruction surgery. Multi-unit recording in the barrel cortex was performed in lightly anesthetized rats while their whiskers were stimulated by a whisker stimulator.

Results

We observed a loss of neuronal responses to whisker stimulation 1 week after surgery, wh

SUBMITTER: Pei YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6700653 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature