Manufacturing neural circuit in chronic spinal cord injury models

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24300197
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Rehabilitation science/Welfare engineering
• Research Institution: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities
• Principal Investigator: AKAI Masami 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 研究所, 研究所顧問 (80143452)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): HAMANOUE Makoto 東邦大学, 医学部, 講師 (00312025) ; OGATA Toru 国立障害者リハビリテーションセンター(研究所), 病院(併任研究所)障害者健康増進・スポーツ科学支援センター, センター長 (00392192)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: リハビリテーション / 脊髄損傷 / 歩行機能 / 痙縮 / ミクログリア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The process of rehabilitation for spinal cord injury consists of tissue reorganization and use-dependent plasticity. In the current study, we attempted to induce inflammation within injured spinal cord for tissue reorganization. We also established the assessment of spasticity during body-weight supported treadmill training. The delivery of dominant active p38 induced microglia activation, which leads to reduced scar and better motor function after spinal cord injury in mice. Spasticity was successfully monitored by wireless EMG implantation into hind limbs of rat. These experimental settings would enable us to develop novel rehabilitation strategy, including pharmacological intervention, precise pre- and post-training evaluation.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション医学