Diaphragmatic recovery in rats with cervical spinal cord injury induced by a theophylline nanoconjugate: Challenges for clinical use.

ABSTRACT: Context: Following a spinal cord hemisection at the second cervical segment the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm is paralyzed due to the disruption of the rostral ventral respiratory group (rVRG) axons descending to the ipsilateral phrenic motoneurons (PN). Systemically administered theophylline activates a functionally latent crossed phrenic pathway (CPP) which decussates caudal to the hemisection and activates phrenic motoneurons ipsilateral to the hemisection. The result is return of function to the paralyzed hemidiaphragm. Unfortunately, in humans, systemically administered theophylline at a therapeutic dose produces many unwanted side effects.Design and setting: A tripartite nanoconjugate was synthesized in which theophylline was coupled to a neuronal tracer, wheat germ aggluti

SUBMITTER: Liu F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6830233 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature