Changes in the functional topography of the rat brain in the early phase after a spinal cord injury
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1
University of Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering ETH , Switzerland
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2
University of Zurich, Institute for Brain Research, Switzerland
The complex pathophysiologic processes of spinal cord injuries (SCI) are slowly being unraveled. Based on anatomical and behavioral studies there is evidence for reorganization in the rat sensory-motor cortex in the early phase after a spinal cord injury. In behavioral tasks animals show spontaneous recovery and also functional compensation. In our study we evaluated the first week after a bilateral SCI at thoracic level 8 with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Following this type of injury the hindlimbs become paralyzed and the sensory input to the hindlimb area of the cortex is compromised.
For fMRI stimulation we applied a block design paradigm consisting of sequential bilateral forepaw stimulation with subcutaneous electrodes. Different combinations of stimulation strength and duration have been tested in order to optimize the response. Complementary information from multivariate hemodynamic readouts was used to analyze the temporal and spatial characteristics of the functional response in the sensory-motor cortex.
The comparison of the preinjury with the postinjury state revealed significant changes in the forelimb representation and also alterations in the temporal profile of the hemodynamic signal. In general this work shows the potential of fMRI for monitoring brain plasticity in rodent models being an attractive complementary in vivo readout for longitudinal studies and potential therapeutic pre-clinical trials.
Conference:
41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting, Rhodes Island, Greece, 13 Sep - 18 Sep, 2009.
Presentation Type:
Poster Presentation
Topic:
Poster presentations
Citation:
Sydekum
E,
Ghosh
A,
Mueggler
T,
Schwab
M and
Rudin
M
(2009). Changes in the functional topography of the rat brain in the early phase after a spinal cord injury.
Conference Abstract:
41st European Brain and Behaviour Society Meeting.
doi: 10.3389/conf.neuro.08.2009.09.317
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Received:
15 Jun 2009;
Published Online:
15 Jun 2009.
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Correspondence:
Esther Sydekum, University of Zurich, Institute for Biomedical Engineering ETH, Zurich, Switzerland, sydekum@biomed.ee.ethz.ch