Development of locomotor activities in young chronic spinal rabbits

It was previously demonstrated that adult chronic spinal rabbits do not recover any spontaneous locomotor activity of the hindlimbs. Pharmacological stimuli may, nevertheless, evoke locomotor activities in the acute spinal animal; however, the pattern is alternate between both hindlimbs instead of being symmetrical (normal pattern in the intact animal). Present data indicate that young rabbits whose spinal cord was transected at birth can recover and spontaneously develop hindlimb locomotor movements over a period of one month after spinal section. These rhythmic activities are either synchronous or alternate between the two sides, or both. It is concluded that not only the alternate pattern but also a pure synchronous one can be generated in the lumbosacral cord in the young chronic spinal rabbit.