Impact of treatment duration and lesion size on effectiveness of chondroitinase treatment post-SCI.

Impact of treatment duration and lesion size on effectiveness of chondroitinase treatment post-SCI. Exp Neurol. 2015 Feb 25; Authors: Mondello SE, Jefferson SC, Tester NJ, Howland DR Abstract The effects of 2weeks of intralesional chondroitinase abc (ch'abc) treatment on anatomical plasticity and behavioral recovery are examined in adult cats and compared to results achieved with 4weeks of treatment following tightly controlled lateral hemisection injuries. Analyses also were completed using 35 cats with a range of hemisection magnitudes to assess relationships between treatment duration, lesion size and functional recovery. Results indicate that both 2 and 4weeks of treatment significantly increased the number of rubrospinal tract (RuST) neurons with axons below the lesion, but neither affected the number of corticospinal tract neurons. Similarly, both treatment periods also accelerated recovery of select motor tasks, which carries considerable importance with respect to human health care and rehabilitation. Four weeks of treatment promoted recovery beyond that seen with 2weeks in its significant impact on accuracy of movement critical for placement of the ipsilateral hindlimb onto small support surfaces during the most challenging locomotor tasks. Analyses, which extended to a larger group of cats with a range of lesion magnitudes, indicate that 4weeks of ch'abc treatment promoted earlier recovery as well as significantly greater t...
Source: Experimental Neurology - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Exp Neurol Source Type: research