Bilateral dorsal funicular lesions alter sensorimotor behaviour in rats.

摘要: Spinal cord injury models often involve damage to the corticospinal tract (CST) because of functional importance this pathway in humans. In rats, main component CST travels dorsal funiculus and cannot be damaged without concurrent overlying sensory fibers. To distinguish deficits due loss from those fiber damage, we bilaterally axotomized ascending fibers columns one group rats (ascending pathways, ASP) compared results a with (ASP+CST). We assessed ability perform skilled reaching task walk over horizontal ladder. also measured forces exerted on ground (ground reaction forces, GRF) limb contact patterns produced during overground locomotion. After ASP lesions alone, endpoint measurements success footslip errors ladder showed transitory impairments, although detailed analysis revealed persistent forelimb movements. ASP+CST caused footslips throughout 8-week post-surgical period. Measurement GRFs timing locomotion differences both groups at 8 weeks post-surgery pre-surgical values, but no between groups. These emphasize normal contribution axons movements support role for information, not descending input, illustrate value using sensitive methods reveal behavioural changes after spinal injury.