Activation of Central Pattern Generator for Respiration Following Complete High Cervical Spinal Cord Interruption
Abstract
The original hypothesis was that an important role of intraspinal inhibitory circuits (GABA- and Glycine-ergic) in control of spinal central pattern generator (CPG) for breathing According our SOW spinal respiratory neurons (cervical C3-C5 and C1-C2 levels) were characterized by their neurotransmitter profile (GABAa- and Glycine-ergic). Epidural stimulation applied at frequencies 100-300 Hz to the area of phrenic nucleus location (C4 cervical segment) in spinal (C1-transected) rats induced time-frequency depended facilitation of phrenic nerve activity and was able to maintain life-supporting paced breathing for at least 30 min. After injection of blockers GABAa and glycine receptors (GABAzine and strychnine) phrenic nerve facilitation was drastically increased. For the first time our experiments demonstrate the high effectiveness of combining pharmacological and electrical (epidural stimulation) modulation of spinal circuits at the level of phrenic nucleus in complete spinal cord injury animal model. These results can be used to develop a new therapeutic strategy to help paraplegic patient to wean from artificial ventilation. These newest findings are being prepared for publication in peer-review scientific journals and presentation at the upcoming annual meeting for the Society for Neuroscience.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1044793
Entities
People
- Vitaliy Marchenko
Organizations
- Drexel University