Summary
Cut dorsal root axons regenerate into intraspinal transplants of foetal spinal cord (FSC) and establish synaptic connections there. The aim of the present study was to determine whether transplant neurons are driven synaptically in response to electrical stimulation of regenerated dorsal root axons.
Adult Sprague-Dawley rats received FSC transplants (E14) into dorsal quadrant cavities at the lumbar enlargement. The cut L4 or L5 dorsal root stump was placed at the bottom of the lesion cavity and secured between the transplant and host spinal cord. Four to ten weeks later the animals were prepared for electrical stimulation and recording. We stimulated regenerated dorsal roots and recorded extracellular signle unit post-synaptic activities which were evoked close to the dorsal root-transplant interface. We used intracellular recording to observe several examples of monosynaptic EPSPs in transplant neurons evoked by dorsal root stimulation.
These results indicate that the regenerated dorsal root axons establish functional connections with neurons within the transplants and suggest that FSC transplants can be used to reconstruct functional connections between neurons that have been interrupted by spinal cord injury.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Curtis DR, Eccles JC (1960) Synaptic action during and after repetitive stimulation. J Physiol (Lond) 150: 374–398
Itoh Y, Tessler A (1990) Ultrastructural organization of regenerated adult dorsal root axons within transplants of fetal spinal cord. J Comp Neurol 292: 396–411
Itoh Y, Sugawara T, Kowada M, Tessler A (1992) Time course of dorsal root axon regeneration into transplants of fetal spinal cord: I. A light microscopic study. J Comp Neurol 323: 198–208
Jack JJB, Miller S, Porter R, Redman SJ (1971) The time course of minimal excitatory postsynaptic potentials evoked in spinal motoneurones by group Ia afferent fibres. J Physiol (Lond) 215: 353–380
Reier PJ, Stensaas LJ, Guth L (1983) The astrocytic scar as an impediment to regeneration in the central nervous system. In: Kao CC, Bunge RP, Reier PJ (eds) Spinal cord reconstruction. Raven, New York, pp 163–196
Reier PJ, Bregman BS, Wujek JR (1986) Intraspinal transplantation of embryonic spinal cord tissue in neonatal and adult rats. J Comp Neurol 247: 275–296
Tessler A, Himes BT, Houle J, Reier PJ (1988) Regeneration of adult dorsal root axons into transplants of embryonic spinal cord. J Comp Neurol 270: 537–548
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1993 Springer-Verlag Wien
About this paper
Cite this paper
Itoh, Y., Tessler, A., Kowada, M., Pinter, M. (1993). Electrophysiological Responses in Foetal Spinal Cord Transplants Evoked by Regenerated Dorsal Root Axons. In: Meyerson, B.A., Broggi, G., Martin-Rodriguez, J., Ostertag, C., Sindou, M. (eds) Advances in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery 10. Acta Neurochirurgica, vol 58. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-9297-9_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-9297-9_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-9299-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-9297-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive