Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that disrupts the communication between the brain and the spinal cord. Several studies have sought to determine how to revive dormant spinal circuits caudal to the lesion to restore movements in paralyzed patients. So far, recovery levels in human patients have been modest at best. In contrast, animal models of SCI exhibit more recovery of lost function. Recovery of lost function could arise from structural changes in spinal circuits following spinal cord injury. Previous work from our lab has identified dI3 interneurons as a spinal neuron population central to the recovery of locomotor function in spinalized mice. We seek to determine the changes in the circuitry of dI3 interneurons and motoneurons following SCI in adult mice. After a complete transection of the spinal cord at T9-T11 level in transgenic Isl1:YFP mice and subsequent treadmill training at various time points of recovery following surgery, we examined changes in three key circuits involving dI3 interneurons and motoneurons: 1) Sensory inputs from proprioceptive and cutaneous afferents, 2) GABAergic inputs onto sensory afferents (GABApre), 3) Central excitatory glutamatergic synapses from spinal neurons onto dI3 INs and motoneurons. Furthermore, we examined the possible role of treadmill training on changes in synaptic connectivity to dI3 interneurons and motoneurons.
Our data suggests that sensory inputs from the periphery labelled by VGLUT1⁺ to dI3 interneurons decrease transiently or only at later stages after injury, whereas levels of VGLUT1⁺ remain the same for motoneurons after injury. Levels of central excitatory inputs labelled by VGLUT2⁺ to dI3 INs and MNs may show transient increases but fall below levels seen in sham-operated mice after a period of time. Levels of GABApre boutons onto the VGLUT1⁺ sensory afferents that project onto to dI3 INs and MNs can rise shortly after SCI, but those increases do not persist. However, levels of these GABApre boutons onto VGLUT1⁺ inputs never fell below levels observed in sham-operated mice. For some synaptic inputs studied, levels were higher in spinal cord-injured animals that received treadmill training, but these increases were observed only at some time points.
Changes in spinal circuitry could be maladaptive. For example, spasticity is a common consequence of SCI, disrupting motor function and resulting in significant discomfort. Spasticity may arise from maladaptive changes in spinal circuits. Current models of hindlimb spasticity are lacking, hindering the study of mechanisms or treatments of spasticity. Therefore, we have generated a novel mouse model of SCI-related spasticity that utilizes optogenetics to activate a subset of cutaneous VGLUT2⁺ sensory afferents to produce reliable incidences of hindlimb spasticity. To examine the efficacy of this optogenetic spasticity model, a T9-T10 complete transection injury was performed in Isl1-Vglut2ᒼᵃᵗᒼʰ mice, followed by the implantation of EMG electrodes into the left and right gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles. Beginning at 9 days post-injury, EMG recordings were performed during episodic optogenetic stimulation. During each recording session, an optic fiber coupled to a 470nm wavelength LED was used to deliver light pulses to the palmar surface of each hindpaw. The results of these recordings demonstrated significant increases in the amplitude of EMG responses to the light stimulus from 2 weeks post-injury to 5 weeks post-injury, indicating hyperreflexia. Interestingly, this hyperreflexia was significantly greater in the female cohort in comparison to the males. Incidences of prolonged involuntary muscle contraction and clonus were also detected through EMG and visual observation during the testing period, supporting the presence of spasticity.
Overall, the results in my thesis suggest remodelling of spinal circuits involving spinal interneurons that have previously been implicated in the recovery of locomotor function after spinal cord injury in mice. In addition, we have developed an optogenetic mouse model that appears to reliably elicit spasticity in SCI mice and may be valuable for the study of SCI-related limb spasticity mechanisms due to the maladaptive changes within the spinal cord.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uottawa.ca/oai:ruor.uottawa.ca:10393/45801 |
| Date | 08 January 2024 |
| Creators | Goltash, Sara |
| Contributors | Bui, Tuan |
| Publisher | Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa |
| Source Sets | Université d’Ottawa |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | application/pdf |
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