Axotomized bulbospinal neurons express c-Jun after cervical spinal cord injury

In several central nervous system neuronal populations, axotomy triggers the upregulation of regeneration-associated genes such as c-Jun, which determines neurons ability to regenerate axon in a growth-permissive environment. We analyzed the expression of c-Jun in rat ventral medullary neurons after cervical hemisection in order to investigate their intrinsic regenerative potential. Maximal expression of c-Jun was observed 7 days after injury mainly in axotomized medullary neurons located in the gigantocellularis nucleus, the raphe nucleus and, although less intensively, in the rostral ventral respiratory group. This suggests that after high cervical injury, a large number of medullary neurons projecting to the spinal cord become competent for axonal regeneration, although this regenerating potential may not be equivalent between the various neuronal populations.