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Related Concept Videos

Indirect Motor Pathways01:22

Indirect Motor Pathways

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The indirect motor or extrapyramidal pathways originate in the brainstem, the lower portion of the brain that connects it to the spinal cord. They consist of several distinct tracts, each with specialized functions. The four main tracts of the indirect motor pathways are the vestibulospinal tract, the reticulospinal tract, the tectospinal tract, and the rubrospinal tract.
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The brainstem, located inferior to the brain and superior to the spinal cord, serves as a bridge between the cerebrum and the spinal cord. It plays a vital role in relaying information and controlling critical life functions. It comprises three primary regions: the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata.
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In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
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The reticular formation is a complex network of gray and white matter located within the brainstem extending from the medulla to the midbrain.
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The spinal cord is an integral hub for motor and sensory information that enables the brain to communicate with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This communication consists of relaying sensory data and transmission of motor commands.
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The spinal cord, a critical component of the central nervous system, extends from the base of the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It is essential for maintaining physical stability and facilitating communication between the brain and peripheral parts of the body.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Spinal Cord Lateral Hemisection and Asymmetric Behavioral Assessments in Adult Rats
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Spinal Cord Lateral Hemisection and Asymmetric Behavioral Assessments in Adult Rats

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The Gigantocellular Reticular Nucleus Plays a Significant Role in Locomotor Recovery after Incomplete Spinal Cord

Anne K Engmann1, Flavio Bizzozzero2, Marc P Schneider2

  • 1Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland anne_engmann@harvard.edu schwab@irem.uzh.ch.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience
|September 26, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers brainstem rewiring, enhancing motor function recovery. Both local and compensatory reticulospinal axon plasticity are crucial for restoring locomotion after hemisection injuries.

Keywords:
motor recoveryplasticityregenerationreticulospinal tractspinal cord injurysprouting

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Spinal Cord Injury Research
  • Neuroplasticity

Background:

  • The brainstem was traditionally considered static after spinal cord injury (SCI).
  • However, evidence shows spontaneous anatomical plasticity in reticulospinal projections following SCI in various animal models.
  • This plasticity correlates with motor function recovery in incomplete SCI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the functional relevance of two modes of reticulospinal fiber growth after cervical hemisection: local rewiring and compensatory outgrowth.
  • To determine the causative role of this plasticity in motor recovery using chemogenetic silencing.

Main Methods:

  • Cervical hemisection in adult female rats.
  • Projection-specific, adeno-associated virus-mediated chemogenetic neuronal silencing.
  • Detailed assessment of joint movements and limb kinetics during overground locomotion, walking, swimming, and wading.

Main Results:

  • Locally rewired and compensatory gigantocellular reticular nucleus (NRG) fibers contributed to different aspects of recovered forelimb and hindlimb functions (stability, strength, coordination, speed, timing).
  • Both plasticity modes were crucial for recovered function during walking and swimming.
  • The contribution of local NRG plasticity to wading was limited.

Conclusions:

  • Locally rewired and compensatory plasticity of reticulospinal axons functionally contribute to spontaneous stepping performance improvement after incomplete SCI.
  • This neuroanatomical plasticity is at least partially causative to functional recovery observed in patients with spinal hemisection lesions.
  • Establishing a causative link between neuroanatomical plasticity and functional recovery is vital for clinical translation.