Regeneration of dorsal root axons into experimentally altered glial environments in the rat spinal cord

Experimental Brain Research
T J Sims, S A Gilmore

Abstract

Exposure of the lumbar spinal cord of rats to X-rays 3 days after birth results in changes in the composition of central glia. Shortly after irradiation, there is both retardation of central myelin formation and a loss of integrity of the astrocyte-derived glia limitans on the dorsal surface of the cord. Subsequently, Schwann cells invade, undergo division and myelinate axons in the dorsal funiculi in the irradiated region of the cord, creating there an environment similar to that of peripheral nerve. The present study was undertaken to compare the ability of lesioned dorsal root axons to grow back into the altered glial environments that exist within the spinal cord after irradiation. This regrowth was assessed by injecting Fluoro-Gold into the spinal cord and subsequently examining neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) for the presence of this label. Numbers of retrogradely labeled neurons were counted in the DRG in both injured and contralateral non-injured sides. Non-irradiated control rats had almost no labeled DRG neurons on the injured side, whereas Fluoro-Gold labeled neurons were observed in substantial numbers in the DRG on the injured side of irradiated rats. There was a definite trend in the data, indicating that...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 25, 2003·Experimental Neurology·Shirley Ann GilmoreJohn D Houlé
Feb 19, 2003·Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews·Håkan Aldskogius, Elena N Kozlova
May 29, 1998·Progress in Neurobiology·H Aldskogius, E N Kozlova
Feb 1, 1997·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·S A GilmoreM B Durgun
Sep 2, 2003·Journal of Clinical Neuroscience : Official Journal of the Neurosurgical Society of Australasia·Peter E Batchelor, David W Howells
May 25, 1999·Journal of Anatomy·J P Fraher
Nov 8, 2008·Molekuliarnaia biologiia·E N Kozlova
Aug 21, 2001·The Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : Official Journal of the Histochemistry Society·E C TsaiC H Tator

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