The structure and electrophysiological characteristics of central spinal axons will be determined during successive stages of the inflammatory response that follows spinal cord contusion injury, in cats. The time-course and mechanism of dysfunction in surviving axons will be investigated, using intracellular microelectrode recording and current-injection in an in vitro preparation of spinal cord. The quantitative extent of axonal survival and myelination will be examined with light- and electron-microscopy, for comparison with physiological recordings in the same tissue. The myelination and electrophysiology of selected individual axons will be correlated by electrophoretic injection of horseradish peroxidase at the time of recording, and subsequent processing for microscopy. The time-course and extent of phagocytic infiltration of the tissue, as a possible contributive factor in axonal pathology, will also be examined. The experiments relate to the problem of defining the extent to which functional loss in traumatic paraplegia and paraparesis is be due to factors other than direct destruction of axons, particularly their demyelination and incomplete remyelination. This will address the utility of attempting to develop therapy for these currently untreatable conditions through improvement of remyelination or treatment of demyelination pathophysiology. The study will provide information on the role of the myelin sheath in action potential conduction, and the physiological effects of demyelination and remyelination in the central nervous systems. This basic knowledge will also be of significance outside the particular context of spinal trauma.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS021122-02
Application #
3401939
Study Section
Neurology B Subcommittee 1 (NEUB)
Project Start
1985-09-09
Project End
1987-08-31
Budget Start
1986-09-01
Budget End
1987-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
New York University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10012
Yates, Jennifer R; Heyes, Melvyn P; Blight, Andrew R (2006) 4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilate reduces local quinolinic acid synthesis, improves functional recovery, and preserves white matter after spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma 23:866-81
Jaeger, C B; Blight, A R (1997) Spinal cord compression injury in guinea pigs: structural changes of endothelium and its perivascular cell associations after blood-brain barrier breakdown and repair. Exp Neurol 144:381-99
Blight, A R; Leroy Jr, E C; Heyes, M P (1997) Quinolinic acid accumulation in injured spinal cord: time course, distribution, and species differences between rat and guinea pig. J Neurotrauma 14:89-98
Gruner, J A; Yee, A K; Blight, A R (1996) Histological and functional evaluation of experimental spinal cord injury: evidence of a stepwise response to graded compression. Brain Res 729:90-101
Cohen, T I; Weinberg, R J; Blight, A R (1996) Intrathecal infusion of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-methyl L-arginine after experimental spinal cord injury in guinea pigs. J Neurotrauma 13:361-9
Blight, A R; Cohen, T I; Saito, K et al. (1995) Quinolinic acid accumulation and functional deficits following experimental spinal cord injury. Brain 118 ( Pt 3):735-52
Blight, A R (1994) Effects of silica on the outcome from experimental spinal cord injury: implication of macrophages in secondary tissue damage. Neuroscience 60:263-73
Blight, A R (1993) Remyelination, revascularization, and recovery of function in experimental spinal cord injury. Adv Neurol 59:91-104
Blight, A R; Saito, K; Heyes, M P (1993) Increased levels of the excitotoxin quinolinic acid in spinal cord following contusion injury. Brain Res 632:314-6
Blight, A R (1992) Macrophages and inflammatory damage in spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma 9 Suppl 1:S83-91

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