Functional plasticity of glutamatergic neurons of medullary reticular nuclei after spinal cord injury in mice

Maxime Lemieux, Narges Karimi and Frederic Bretzner ()
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Maxime Lemieux: Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL-Neurosciences
Narges Karimi: Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL-Neurosciences
Frederic Bretzner: Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, CHUL-Neurosciences

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Abstract Spinal cord injury disrupts the descending command from the brain and causes a range of motor deficits. Here, we use optogenetic tools to investigate the functional plasticity of the glutamatergic reticulospinal drive of the medullary reticular formation after a lateral thoracic hemisection in female mice. Sites evoking stronger excitatory descending drive in intact conditions are the most impaired after injury, whereas those associated with a weaker drive are potentiated. After lesion, pro- and anti-locomotor activities (that is, initiation/acceleration versus stop/deceleration) are overall preserved. Activating the descending reticulospinal drive improves stepping ability on a flat surface of chronically impaired injured mice, and its priming enhances recovery of skilled locomotion on a horizontal ladder. This study highlights the resilience and capacity for reorganization of the glutamatergic reticulospinal command after injury, along with its suitability as a therapeutical target to promote functional recovery.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45300-4

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