Changes in sympathetic neurovascular function following spinal cord injury

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Physiology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Spinal cord injury (SCI) effects on sympathetic neurovascular transmission are understudied.
• Sympathetic nervous system controls blood vessel tone and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review changes in sympathetic nerve-mediated arterial contractility after spinal cord transection in rats.
• To elucidate the mechanisms underlying enhanced neurovascular transmission post-SCI.

Main Methods:

• Review of studies on rat models with spinal cord transection.
• Analysis of contractile responses in rat tail and mesenteric arteries.
• Investigation of adrenoceptor sensitivity and ion channel contributions.

Main Results:

• SCI markedly enhanced contractile responses to sympathetic nerve activity in all studied vessels.
• Tail artery enhancement involved increased L-type Ca2+ channel contribution.
• Mesenteric artery enhancement suggested reduced neuronal noradrenaline transporter activity.

Conclusions:

• Mechanisms augmenting neurovascular transmission post-SCI vary between vascular beds.
• Findings in rats may be relevant to human SCI and autonomic dysreflexia.
• Further research is needed to fully understand these adaptations.