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Published on: July 11, 2017
Inhibiting Calcium Release from Ryanodine Receptors Protects Axons after Spinal Cord Injury
Ben C Orem1,2, Arezoo Rajaee1,3, David P Stirling1,3,2,4
1Kentucky Spinal Cord Injury Research Center, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
Ryanodine receptor (RyR) inhibition shortly after spinal cord injury (SCI) reduces axonal degeneration and improves survival. Early intervention with RyR antagonists shows promise for preventing secondary axonal damage following SCI.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Ryanodine receptors (RyRs) regulate intracellular calcium release and are implicated in axonal degeneration.
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers secondary axonal degeneration, partly mediated by calcium signaling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of RyRs in intra-axonal calcium dynamics and axonal degeneration after SCI.
- To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of RyR inhibition in preventing axonal damage post-SCI.
Main Methods:
- Intravital imaging in Thy1-YFP and Avil-Cre:Ai9:Ai95 transgenic mice to visualize axons and calcium changes in real-time after mild SCI.
- Administration of ryanodine (RyR antagonist) intrathecally either within 15 minutes or 3 hours post-SCI, compared to vehicle controls.
Main Results:
- Early RyR inhibition (within 15 min) significantly reduced axonal spheroid formation and increased axonal survival up to 24 hours post-SCI.
- Delayed ryanodine treatment (3 h post-SCI) improved axonal survival and decreased intra-axonal calcium but did not affect spheroid formation.
Conclusions:
- RyR plays a critical role in secondary axonal degeneration following SCI.
- Timely inhibition of RyRs represents a potential therapeutic strategy to mitigate axonal loss after spinal cord injury.
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