Adaptive changes in the injured spinal cord and their role in promoting functional recovery

Although axons in the injured spinal cord are unable to regenerate, a modest recovery can often be found in both patients and animal models. One concept touted as a possible mechanism behind this recovery involves rearrangements in the brain and spinal cord, often referred to as plasticity. In the following review, centered around works from our laboratory, we will discuss plasticity throughout the entire central nervous system (CNS) induced by spinal cord injuries (SCIs) with an emphasis on sprouting of descending spinal tracts. Because this sprouting occurs spontaneously, it not only lends itself as a recovery mechanism, but also opens potential treatment avenues to promote further functional recovery. As such, various recent examples of approaches to pharmacologically promote plasticity within the spinal cord are discussed.