Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-6-12
pubmed:abstractText
We studied the effects of complete transversal section of the spinal cord, at T8-10, in adult rats, upon the number and morphology of identified motoneurones in lumbar segments L4 and L5. In observations by light and electron microscopy many lumbar motoneurones had structural abnormalities when the interval between surgery and perfusion ranged between a few hours and one week. We found also that as many as 25% of the motoneurones distal to a cord transection disappeared as a consequence of the lesions. We did not find comparable changes in the spinal cord at C6 after transection at T8-10. Complete removal of the cerebellum did not reduce the lumbar motoneurone counts. Bilateral ablation of the "motor" cortex did cause a reduction of motoneurone counts at L4-5; these animals showed normal or near normal spontaneous locomotor activity beginning a few days after the lesion was placed. Motoneurone counts were significantly reduced after partial cord lesions that spared the dorsal funiculi (where the corticospinal tract travels in the rat), but in this case the rats were paraplegic as a result of the lesion. Cord transection at 7 days of postnatal age resulted in reduced motoneurone counts when the rats reached adulthood. Intraspinal or subarachnoid administration of colchicine led to reduced motoneurone counts. Prolonged infusion of a GABA agonist, muscimol, into the lumbar CSF did not prevent the loss of motoneurones produced by cord transection. Pretreatment of animals with a Ca2+ channel blocker (nimodipine) did not prevent the effects of cord transection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0361-9230
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
22
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
39-45
pubmed:dateRevised
2003-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Transsynaptic degeneration of motoneurones caudal to spinal cord lesions.
pubmed:affiliation
Division of Neurosurgery, Audie L. Murphy Veterans Administration Hospital, San Antonio, TX 78284.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article