A comparison of axonal numbers in dorsal roots following spinal cord hemisection in neonate and adult rats

Claire E. Hulsebosch, Richard E. Coggeshall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study presentsd mtelinated and unmyelinated axon counts from thoracic dorsal roots of rats whose spinal cords were hemisected at birth or at 1 year of age. Axonal numbers from a root on the unoperated side are compared to numbers from the root of the same segment on the operated side of the animal. Counts were made 3 segments cranially and 3 segments caudally from the hemisection. In animals hemisected at birth and sacrified at 3-8 months, there is a statistically significant increase in unmyelinated axons in roots of the operated as compared to the normal side. We interpret this as sprouting of unmyelinated axons. In animals hemisected at 1 year of age, the statistically significant change was a drop in myelinated axons in roots of the operated side. We interpret this as a loss of myelinated axon cell bodies due to axon section in the dorsal funiculus. Thus axonal sprouting occurs in young rats in our paradigm and a loss of myelinated axons occurs in older animals. We emphasize that different axonal populations respond to hemisection in different ways at different times.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)187-197
Number of pages11
JournalBrain Research
Volume265
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 18 1983

Keywords

  • axonal sprouting
  • dorsal root
  • spinal hemisection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Developmental Biology

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