Interhemispheric axonal sprouting occurs after pial removal in mice.
Kasra Nikouei1, Leonardo Garma2, Fatima Memic1
1Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Scientific Reports
|October 21, 2024
Summary
Researchers created a surgical interhemispheric bridge in mice, forming a new connection between brain hemispheres. This innovative approach shows promise for bypassing subcortical damage and restoring neurological function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Surgical Innovation
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- White matter plasticity is limited, and subcortical injuries often cause permanent neurological deficits.
- Cortical regions share subcortical nuclei, suggesting intergyral connections could bypass damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a surgical model for an intercortical transpial bypass in mice.
- To investigate the feasibility of creating new interhemispheric connections to bypass subcortical damage.
Main Methods:
- A midline craniotomy and interhemispheric (IH) pial removal were performed in C57BL/6 mice to create a surgical bridge.
- Adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing tdTomato was injected to trace axonal sprouting.
- Axonal sprouting and glial changes were assessed at two and four weeks post-surgery.
Main Results:
- The surgical procedure resulted in a physical connection between hemispheres and loss of the pial barrier.
- Cortical layer I thinned, bringing neuronal bodies into closer proximity.
- New interhemispheric axonal crossings were observed in the bypass group but not in sham controls.
Conclusions:
- This study establishes the first step towards a cortico-cortico transpial bypass.
- The findings demonstrate the potential for surgically restoring neurological function by creating new neural pathways.
