Chronic, complete cervical6-7 cord transection: distinct autonomic and cardiac deficits
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) resulting in tetraplegia is a devastating, life-changing insult causing paralysis and sensory impairment as well as distinct autonomic dysfunction that triggers compromised cardiovascular, bowel, bladder, and sexual activity. Life becomes a battle for independence as even routine bodily functions and the smallest activity of daily living become major challenges. Accordingly, there is a critical need for a chronic preclinical model of tetraplegia. This report addresses this critical need by comparing, for the first time, resting-, reflex-, and stress-induced cardiovascular, autonomic, and hormonal responses each week for 4 wk in 12 sham-operated intact rats and 12 rats with chronic, complete C6-7 spinal cord transection. Loss of supraspinal control to all sympathetic preganglionic neurons projecting to the heart and vasculature resulted in a profound bradycardia and hypotension, reduced cardiac sympathetic and parasympathetic tonus, reduced reflex- and stress-induced sympathetic responses, and reduced sympathetic support of blood pressure as well as enhanced reliance on angiotensin to maintain arterial blood pressure. Histological examination of the nucleus ambiguus and stellate ganglia supports the prof...Continue Reading
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