Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience - Volume 4, issue 6

Authors: Ribarič, Samo | Jarh, Orest | Sepe, Ana | Demsar, Franci

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Axonotmesis of the left sciatic nerve was performed on adult male Wistar rats. T1 values of the crushed nerve samples were determined with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Denervation changes of the dependent hind plantar flexor muscles were assessed with proton magnetic resonance imaging of their cross-sectional area and muscle force measurements. However, Tl relaxation time of the crushed nerve samples remained prolonged implying the absence of nerve regeneration. This would be in contradiction with what is known about regeneration after simple crash and the muscle force and magnetic resonance imaging measurements of the dependent plantar flexor muscles. These …studies indicated that sufficient nerve regeneration had taken place to restore their muscle force and volume. A model is suggested to explain the persistence of prolonged Tl values in the presence of muscle force recovery. Show more

Keywords: Axonotmesis, Comparative studies, Proton magnetic resonance, Spectroscopy, Imaging, Peripheral nerve regeneration

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4601

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 363-368, 1992

Authors: Buzsáki, György | Hsu, Melissa | Horváth, Zsolt | Gage, Fred H.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The present experiments examined whether cholinergic grafts reverse the physiological and behavioral deficits of the damaged hippocampus. Fimbria-fornix lesions were performed in young rats and 3 months later half of the lesioned rats received cholinergic-rich basal forebrain transplants. Eight months after grafting we tested the animals behaviorally in the water maze. Following the behavioral experiments, the animals were implanted with chronic recording and stimulating electrodes and the electrical properties of the hippocampus, including spontaneous EEG, interictal spikes, evoked responses, long-term potentiation, and sensitivity to induced seizures were examined. Grafted rats did not show statistically reliable behavioral recovery (swim latencies, swim …path lengths) and their performance was identical to the lesion-only group. Acetylcholinesterase reinnervation of the host hippocampus in grafted animals was similar to intact rats; the grafts also contained numerous parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons. The most striking physiological change was the significant elevation of seizure threshold in the grafted group, but other physiological parameters did not improve consistently. The findings suggest that the presence of septal tissue grafts and restoration of cholinergic reinnervation in animals with previous subcortical denervation of the hippocampus are not sufficient to restore normal hippocampal electrical patterns or to improve behavioral performance. Show more

Keywords: Hippocampus, Grafting, Physiology, Septum, Epilepsy, Memory

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4602

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 369-380, 1992

Authors: Ma, Weiya | Vacca-Galloway, L.L.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Presumed interneurons are described in the Golgi-impregnated cervical spinal cord taken from normal phenotype and motoneuron-diseased mice of the Wobbler mouse strain (NFR/wr), as well as from the spinal cord of two related normal mouse strains (C57B1/6N and NFR/N). The interneurons, distributed throughout Rexed's laminae V–VIII, are characterized by numerous spines clustered along the distal dendrites. Quantitatively, the soma size (μm2 ) of the interneurons in the Wobbler specimens studied late in the motoneuron disease is smaller than that measured in the pair-matched (3-week-old) normal phenotype littermates. Early in the disease, the spine density (number of spines per 100 μm …length dendrite) is greater compared with the normal phenotype littermates, perhaps implying that sprouting may occur. At a later stage in the disease process, the spine density does not differ significantly. However the increase in the spine density expected with advancing age is not observed for the Wobbler interneurons. It is proposed that perhaps the normal age-related proliferation of spines is impaired in the Wobbler mice. Since the measurements for spine length are lower in the Wobbler interneurons studied late in the motoneuron disease compared with the pair-matched (3-month-old) normal phenotype littermates, the normal age-related lengthening of the spines seems to be lacking. In addition, the spine length measured in the normal phenotype littermates is significantly greater compared with the normal mice (NFR/N, C57B1/6N). Thus the growth patterns of the spines may differ in the Wobbler mouse strain compared with the normal (C57B1/6N, NFR/N) mouse strains. It is proposed that the Wobbler motoneuron disease affects interneurons as well as motoneurons. Show more

Keywords: Wobbler mouse, Motoneuron disease, Cervical spinal cord, Spiny ventral horn neuron, Spine, Rapid Golgi method

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4603

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 381-392, 1992

Authors: Klausen, Bodil S. | Swenson, Rand S. | Zimmer, Jens | Castro, Anthony J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: In previous work, allografts of fetal (E13–16) neocortical tissue transplanted into neocortical lesion cavities in newborn (PND 0–1) rats developed an impermeable blood–brain barrier (BBB) as shown by intravascular administration of horseradish peroxidase and by immunohistochemical staining for endogenous IgG. The present study examines the time course for the formation of the graft BBB by staining for endogenous IgG and also looks at transplants with extended survival times of 1–2 years. At two weeks post-transplantation, the grafts of all ten animals of this group showed evidence of IgG immunoreactivity within the graft parenchyma. This was greatest at the pial surface …and adjacent to the ventricular surface of the transplant. By three weeks after transplantation, only four of nine grafts showed graft vessel permeability and this was confined to the area under the pia. At four weeks survival, one of nine grafts showed a small rostral patch of IgG reactivity, and a second animal showed very light, diffuse transplant labeling. The remaining seven animals were devoid of transplant IgG reactivity. At 11.5–28 months, three out of seven grafts had reaction product in the graft, indicating BBB permeability to IgG. In two of these older transplants, permeability was confined to the area around larger blood vessels, while one additional animal (28 months) showed dense labeling immediately below the pial surface. As in normal rats, host brain labeling was only found in circumventricular organs. These results show that circulating macromolecules are excluded from most CNS grafts within the first month of transplantation. This process progresses from the center of grafts and requires the longest time to complete in subpial regions possibly associated with healing of the pia. Some older grafts show leakage of protein which may relate to aging of the transplant or to a low-level graft rejection. Show more

Keywords: Neural graft, Neocortex, Newborn, Blood vessel permeability

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4604

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 393-400, 1992

Authors: Shah, Surya | Vanclay, Frank | Cooper, Betty

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: This prospective, multicentre, population study, of all first-stroke survivors in one year referred for in-patient rehabilitation, compares the efficiency and effectiveness of functional recovery following ad hoc and routine rehabilitation of general medical wards with intensive and comprehensive rehabilitation of mixed disability geriatric/rehabilitation units. After controlling for potential confounding variables, no significant differences were recorded in terms of Barthel discharge function scores, effectiveness or efficiency of rehabilitation. Conventional rehabilitation in general medical wards of acute hospitals was 35% more efficient than comprehensive rehabilitation in geriatric/rehabilitation units (1.08 vs. 0.70, P < 0.001), this being due to unnecessarily long rehabilitation stays …(44 vs. 70 days, P < 0.000). Contrary to other studies, geriatric/rehabilitation units did not significantly increase the discharge scores, did not accelerate the process of rehabilitation, and did not decrease the demand for extended-care beds. Show more

Keywords: Hemiplegia, ADL outcome, Functional independence, Rehabilitation efficiency, Stroke rehabilitation

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4605

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 401-410, 1992

Authors: Kordower, Jeffrey H. | Bankiewicz, Krzysztof S. | Mufson, Elliott J.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The expression of the p75 nerve growth factor receptor (NGFR) was examined in Rhesus and Cebus monkeys following complete unilateral transections of the hypoglossal nerve. In unoperated and sham-lesioned monkeys, NGF receptor-immunoreactivity was always undetectable within hypoglossal motor neurons. In contrast, monkeys receiving unilateral transections of the hypoglossal nerve displayed numerous NGFR-immunoreactive neurons within ipsilateral hypoglossal motor neurons 1 week post-lesion. The peak expression of NGFR-immunoreactive hypoglossal neurons was seen 4 weeks following the lesion and although fewer, these neurons were still observed in large numbers 10 weeks post-lesion. By 16 weeks post-lesion only a few NGFR-immunoreactive motor neurons were …observed. A small number of NGF receptor-immunoreactive neurons were also seen within the contralateral hypoglossal nucleus at post-lesion weeks 4 and 10. These data demonstrate that adult hypoglossal motor neurons express detectable levels of p75 nerve growth factor receptor following hypoglossal nerve transection in monkeys in a manner similar to that previously reported in non-primate species. The synthesis of p75 NGF receptors in these neurons may represent a regeneration-mediated re-expression of NGF receptors which only normally occurs during development. Show more

Keywords: Axotomy, Cholinergic, Monkey, Trophism

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4606

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 411-417, 1992

Authors: Garcia-Rill, E. | Houle, J.D. | Reese, N.B. | Skinner, R.D.

Article Type: Short Communication

Abstract: Adult rats received a complete mid-lower thoracic spinal cord transection and a peripheral nerve autograft was inserted across the transection site. Testing 3–4 months later showed that, after decerebration, stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) induced forelimb but not hindlimb locomotion. However, in 5/7 animals, tail pinch interrupted MLR stimulation-induced forelimb stepping, while pinna pinch induced hindlimb muscle twitch. These effects were not present following complete section of the nerve graft or in 6 control animals which did not receive a graft. Exposure of the cut mid-portion of the grafts to DiI revealed the presence of labeled axons entering …the spinal cord through both ends of the graft in those animals which showed the above effects. There was no transport in the 2 cases in which tail pinch interruption of MLR-induced stepping or pinna pinch-induced hindlimb muscle twitch did not occur. We conclude that non-specific information which can modulate locomotion may be flowing through the graft. Show more

Keywords: Locomotion, Neurotransplantation, PNS Graft, Spinal cord transection, Rat

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4607

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 419-424, 1992

Authors: Roof, Robin L. | Duvdevani, Revital | Stein, Donald G.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: To assess the effectiveness of progesterone as a treatment for edema following traumatic brain injury, male and female rats were injected with progesterone or the oil vehicle over a 3-day period following a cortical contusion injury. Oil-treated rats showed significant localized edema as measured by the wet weight/dry weight tissue punch technique. Progesterone-treated rats, both male and female, showed marked attenuation, or in some cases, absence of this post-injury edema. We conclude that progesterone shows promise as a treatment for edema following traumatic brain injury.

Keywords: Progesterone, Brain edema, Gonadal hormone, Traumatic brain injury

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4608

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 425-427, 1992

Authors: Appel, Stanley H.

Article Type: Book Review

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4609

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 429-430, 1992

Article Type: Research Article

DOI: 10.3233/RNN-1992-4610

Citation: Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, vol. 4, no. 6, pp. 431-437, 1992