Signals from lumbar primary afferent fibers are important for modulating locomotion of the hind-limbs.However,silver impregnation techniques,autoradiography,wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase and cholera tox...Signals from lumbar primary afferent fibers are important for modulating locomotion of the hind-limbs.However,silver impregnation techniques,autoradiography,wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase and cholera toxin B subunit-horseradish peroxidase cannot image the central projections and connections of the dorsal root in detail.Thus,we injected 3-k Da Texas red-dextran amine into the proximal trunks of L4 dorsal roots in adult rats.Confocal microscopy results revealed that numerous labeled arborizations and varicosities extended to the dorsal horn from T12–S4,to Clarke＇s column from T10–L2,and to the ventral horn from L1–5.The labeled varicosities at the L4 cord level were very dense,particularly in laminae I–Ⅲ,and the density decreased gradually in more rostral and caudal segments.In addition,they were predominately distributed in laminae I–IV,moderately in laminae V–VⅡ and sparsely in laminae VⅢ–X.Furthermore,direct contacts of lumbar afferent fibers with propriospinal neurons were widespread in gray matter.In conclusion,the projection and connection patterns of L4 afferents were illustrated in detail by Texas red-dextran amine-dorsal root tracing.展开更多
Polyethylene glycol（PEG） has been shown to restore axonal continuity after peripheral nerve transection in animal models. We hypothesized that PEG can also restore axonal continuity in the central nervous system. In...Polyethylene glycol（PEG） has been shown to restore axonal continuity after peripheral nerve transection in animal models. We hypothesized that PEG can also restore axonal continuity in the central nervous system. In this current experiment, coronal sectioning of the brains of Sprague-Dawley rats was performed after animal sacrifice. 3Brain high-resolution microelectrode arrays（MEA） were used to measure mean firing rate（MFR） and peak amplitude across the corpus callosum of the ex-vivo brain slices. The corpus callosum was subsequently transected and repeated measurements were performed. The cut ends of the corpus callosum were still apposite at this time. A PEG solution was applied to the injury site and repeated measurements were performed. MEA measurements showed that PEG was capable of restoring electrophysiology signaling after transection of central nerves. Before injury, the average MFRs at the ipsilateral, midline, and contralateral corpus callosum were 0.76, 0.66, and 0.65 spikes/second, respectively, and the average peak amplitudes were 69.79, 58.68, and 49.60 μV, respectively. After injury, the average MFRs were 0.71, 0.14, and 0.25 spikes/second, respectively and peak amplitudes were 52.11, 8.98, and 16.09 μV, respectively. After application of PEG, there were spikes in MFR and peak amplitude at the injury site and contralaterally. The average MFRs were 0.75, 0.55, and 0.47 spikes/second at the ipsilateral, midline, and contralateral corpus callosum, respectively and peak amplitudes were 59.44, 45.33, 40.02 μV, respectively. There were statistically differences in the average MFRs and peak amplitudes between the midline and non-midline corpus callosum groups（P 〈 0.01, P 〈 0.05）. These findings suggest that PEG restores axonal conduction between severed central nerves, potentially representing axonal fusion.展开更多
基金supported by the Medical Sciences Foundation of China,No.14CXZ007
文摘Signals from lumbar primary afferent fibers are important for modulating locomotion of the hind-limbs.However,silver impregnation techniques,autoradiography,wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase and cholera toxin B subunit-horseradish peroxidase cannot image the central projections and connections of the dorsal root in detail.Thus,we injected 3-k Da Texas red-dextran amine into the proximal trunks of L4 dorsal roots in adult rats.Confocal microscopy results revealed that numerous labeled arborizations and varicosities extended to the dorsal horn from T12–S4,to Clarke＇s column from T10–L2,and to the ventral horn from L1–5.The labeled varicosities at the L4 cord level were very dense,particularly in laminae I–Ⅲ,and the density decreased gradually in more rostral and caudal segments.In addition,they were predominately distributed in laminae I–IV,moderately in laminae V–VⅡ and sparsely in laminae VⅢ–X.Furthermore,direct contacts of lumbar afferent fibers with propriospinal neurons were widespread in gray matter.In conclusion,the projection and connection patterns of L4 afferents were illustrated in detail by Texas red-dextran amine-dorsal root tracing.
文摘Polyethylene glycol（PEG） has been shown to restore axonal continuity after peripheral nerve transection in animal models. We hypothesized that PEG can also restore axonal continuity in the central nervous system. In this current experiment, coronal sectioning of the brains of Sprague-Dawley rats was performed after animal sacrifice. 3Brain high-resolution microelectrode arrays（MEA） were used to measure mean firing rate（MFR） and peak amplitude across the corpus callosum of the ex-vivo brain slices. The corpus callosum was subsequently transected and repeated measurements were performed. The cut ends of the corpus callosum were still apposite at this time. A PEG solution was applied to the injury site and repeated measurements were performed. MEA measurements showed that PEG was capable of restoring electrophysiology signaling after transection of central nerves. Before injury, the average MFRs at the ipsilateral, midline, and contralateral corpus callosum were 0.76, 0.66, and 0.65 spikes/second, respectively, and the average peak amplitudes were 69.79, 58.68, and 49.60 μV, respectively. After injury, the average MFRs were 0.71, 0.14, and 0.25 spikes/second, respectively and peak amplitudes were 52.11, 8.98, and 16.09 μV, respectively. After application of PEG, there were spikes in MFR and peak amplitude at the injury site and contralaterally. The average MFRs were 0.75, 0.55, and 0.47 spikes/second at the ipsilateral, midline, and contralateral corpus callosum, respectively and peak amplitudes were 59.44, 45.33, 40.02 μV, respectively. There were statistically differences in the average MFRs and peak amplitudes between the midline and non-midline corpus callosum groups（P 〈 0.01, P 〈 0.05）. These findings suggest that PEG restores axonal conduction between severed central nerves, potentially representing axonal fusion.
