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Related Concept Videos

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

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Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
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Depolarizing blockers act on skeletal muscle fibers' membranes and induce their depolarization. Most depolarizing blockers have two quaternary N+ atoms that bind the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and cause neuromuscular blockade within minutes.
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Neonatal systemic gene therapy restores cardiorespiratory function in a rat model of Pompe disease.

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Daily hyperbaric oxygen therapy increases diaphragm electromyographic activity and alters diaphragm gene expression after cervical spinal cord injury.

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Acute Administration of Ampakine CX1739 after Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Neuromotor Control and Recovery of Diaphragm Function Following Cervical Spinal Hemisection in Rats
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Author Spotlight: Neuromotor Control and Recovery of Diaphragm Function Following Cervical Spinal Hemisection in Rats

Published on: June 14, 2024

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Ampakines Stimulate Diaphragm Activity after Spinal Cord Injury.

Sabhya Rana1,2,3, Michael D Sunshine1,2,3, John J Greer4

  • 1Department of Physical Therapy and University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

Journal of Neurotrauma
|November 22, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Low dose ampakine treatment safely enhances diaphragm electrical activity (EMG) in rats with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). This finding suggests ampakines could aid respiratory rehabilitation after SCI.

Keywords:
EMGampakinesbreathingdiaphragmspinal cord injury

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pharmacology
  • Respiratory Physiology

Background:

  • Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently causes respiratory compromise, a major cause of mortality.
  • Incomplete SCIs retain some neural pathways for respiratory control, offering potential for therapeutic intervention.
  • Ampakines modulate alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, which are crucial for respiratory neuron function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the safety and efficacy of low-dose ampakine treatment in improving diaphragm electromyography (EMG) activity following acute or sub-acute cervical SCI.
  • To determine if ampakines can enhance respiratory output during both normal breathing and acute respiratory challenges.

Main Methods:

  • Diaphragm EMG was recorded in unanesthetized rats with C2 spinal hemi-lesions (C2Hx) at 4 and 14 days post-injury.
  • Rats underwent baseline breathing and an acute respiratory challenge (10% O2, 7% CO2).
  • Intravenous administration of two ampakines (CX717, CX1739) or a vehicle (HPCD) at 5 mg/kg.

Main Results:

  • At 4 days post-injury, both ampakines increased ipsilateral diaphragm EMG during baseline and challenge conditions.
  • CX1739 demonstrated a sustained (15 min) increase in EMG output at 4 days post-injury.
  • At 14 days post-injury, both ampakines provided sustained EMG increases and enhanced output during respiratory challenge.

Conclusions:

  • Low-dose ampakine treatment effectively increases diaphragm EMG activity in a preclinical model of cervical SCI.
  • Ampakines represent a potential pharmacological strategy to support respiratory function and rehabilitation post-SCI.
  • Further research into ampakine therapy for SCI-related respiratory dysfunction is warranted.