Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) has devastating physical and socioeconomical impact. However, some degree of functional recovery is frequently observed in patients after SCI. There is considerable evidence that functional plasticity occurs in cerebral cortical maps of the body, which may account for functional recovery after injury. Additionally, these plasticity changes also occur at multiple levels including the brainstem, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Although the interaction of plasticity changes at each level has been less well studied, it is likely that changes in subcortical levels contribute to cortical reorganization. Since the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is changed, SCI-induced factors, such as cytokines and growth factors, can be involved in the plasticity events, thus affecting the final functional recovery after SCI. The mechanism of plasticity probably differs depending on the time frame. The reorganization that is rapidly induced by acute injury is likely based on unmasking of latent synapses resulting from modulation of neurotransmitters, while the long-term changes after chronic injury involve changes of synaptic efficacy modulated by long-term potentiation and axonal regeneration and sprouting. The functional significance of neural plasticity after SCI remains unclear. It indicates that in some situations plasticity changes can result in functional improvement, while in other situations they may have harmful consequences. Thus, further understanding of the mechanisms of plasticity could lead to better ways of promoting useful reorganization and preventing undesirable consequences.
Keywords: spinal cord injury, plasticity, reorganization, cortex, blood-brain barrier
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Neural Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury
Volume: 11 Issue: 11
Author(s): Yuemin Ding, Abba J. Kastin and Weihong Pan
Affiliation:
Keywords: spinal cord injury, plasticity, reorganization, cortex, blood-brain barrier
Abstract: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has devastating physical and socioeconomical impact. However, some degree of functional recovery is frequently observed in patients after SCI. There is considerable evidence that functional plasticity occurs in cerebral cortical maps of the body, which may account for functional recovery after injury. Additionally, these plasticity changes also occur at multiple levels including the brainstem, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Although the interaction of plasticity changes at each level has been less well studied, it is likely that changes in subcortical levels contribute to cortical reorganization. Since the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is changed, SCI-induced factors, such as cytokines and growth factors, can be involved in the plasticity events, thus affecting the final functional recovery after SCI. The mechanism of plasticity probably differs depending on the time frame. The reorganization that is rapidly induced by acute injury is likely based on unmasking of latent synapses resulting from modulation of neurotransmitters, while the long-term changes after chronic injury involve changes of synaptic efficacy modulated by long-term potentiation and axonal regeneration and sprouting. The functional significance of neural plasticity after SCI remains unclear. It indicates that in some situations plasticity changes can result in functional improvement, while in other situations they may have harmful consequences. Thus, further understanding of the mechanisms of plasticity could lead to better ways of promoting useful reorganization and preventing undesirable consequences.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ding Yuemin, Kastin J. Abba and Pan Weihong, Neural Plasticity After Spinal Cord Injury, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2005; 11 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053507855
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612053507855 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Patent Selections:
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine Commentary: Multifactoriality of Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Linking Unfolded Proteins to Oxidative Stress in Microglia
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Electrostimulators and Muscle Fatigue: A Patent Review
Recent Patents on Mechanical Engineering Structure, Biological Properties and Applications of Marine-derived Polysaccharides
Current Organic Chemistry Editorial [Exploring Neural-Immune System Interactions]
Current Immunology Reviews (Discontinued) Sugar Sulfamates for Seizure Control: Discovery and Development of Topiramate, a Structurally Unique Antiepileptic Drug
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Role of Astrogliosis in Formation of the Syrinx in Spinal Cord Injury
Current Neuropharmacology Brain Adaptation to Stressful Stimuli: A New Perspective on Potential Therapeutic Approaches Based on BDNF and NMDA Receptors
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Evidence of Nestin-Positive Cells in the Human Cutaneus Meissner and Pacinian Corpuscles
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Investigational Selective Melatoninergic Ligands for Receptor Subtype MT2
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry TRPV1 Channel: A Potential Drug Target for Treating Epilepsy
Current Neuropharmacology Pharmacological Support of Neurorehabilitation
Current Drug Therapy Meet Our Editorial Board Member
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Association between Regular Cannabis Exposure and Alterations of Human Brain Morphology: An Updated Review of the Literature
Current Pharmaceutical Design Conference Report: 184th American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, Austin TX, USA Feb. 15-19, 2018
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets The Small Heat Shock Protein HspB8: Role in Nervous System Physiology and Pathology
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Insight into Pain Modulation: Nociceptors Sensitization and Therapeutic Targets
Current Drug Targets Treatment of Tachycardia in Hypertension: Where Do We Stand Now?
Current Hypertension Reviews Mesenchymal Stem Cells: New Approaches for the Treatment of Neurological Diseases
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Therapeutic Modulation of Growth Factors and Cytokines in Regenerative Medicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design