Related Experiment Videos
The chronic spinalized cat: a model for neuromuscular plasticity
Birth Defects Original Article Series
|January 1, 1983
Summary
Younger cats with spinal cord transection showed better hindlimb locomotion recovery. While training aided older cats, younger cats regained walking ability regardless of exercise, indicating age is key for spinal cord recovery.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Motor Control
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
Background:
- Spinal cord injury (SCI) impairs hindlimb locomotion.
- Understanding factors influencing motor recovery post-SCI is crucial for therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of age at spinalization and treadmill training on hindlimb locomotion recovery in cats.
- To analyze the effects of age and training on muscle activity and gait kinematics after SCI.
Main Methods:
- Cats underwent spinal cord transection (T12) at 2 or 12 weeks of age.
- Animals were assigned to non-exercised (NE) or exercised (E) groups, with training on a motorized treadmill.
- Locomotion, electromyography, and kinematic analyses were performed during a four-month recovery period.
Main Results:
- Younger spinalized cats (2 weeks) showed significantly better hindlimb locomotion recovery than older cats (12 weeks), irrespective of training.
- Treadmill training improved locomotion in older cats, with some developing weight-supported stepping, while untrained older cats did not.
- Despite altered muscle fiber composition, ankle muscle recruitment patterns were normal in cats with the best locomotion.
Conclusions:
- The spinal cord possesses intrinsic locomotor circuitry, but its development/recovery is significantly influenced by the age at spinalization.
- While training can aid recovery in older individuals, age at injury is a more critical factor for regaining hindlimb weight-supported locomotion.