Improved Respiratory Function Following Spinal Cord Injury in Male and Female Rats

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2017-04, Vol.31 (S1)
• Main Authors: Williams, Kathleen, Khanbhai, Nilofar, Zimmer, M. Beth, Westerkamp, Christopher
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.31.1_supplement.lb837

Abstract only Dysfunctions below the site of spinal cord injuries (SCI) include loss of respiratory muscle function. Respiratory dysfunction is the primary cause of death of individuals with SCI. Approximately 17,000 people in the United States suffer from SCI each year, with males comprising 80% of this population. The intercostal muscles and the diaphragm are important for the inspiratory phase of respiration. Hemisection of the spinal cord second cervical vertebra causes paralysis of the ipsilateral hemidiaphragm and decreased EMG activity of the ipsilateral intercostal muscles. Past studies have reported complete or partial EMG activity is regained faster in the ipsilateral intercostal muscles of young male rats than old female rats after SCI. This study used male and female rats of the same age to determine if the regained EMG activity is sex specific. We hypothesized that there would be more EMG activity in the intercostal muscles of male rats of the same age compared to female rats three weeks post‐hemisection. Male and female Long‐Evans rats had bilateral phrenic and intercostal EMG activity recorded three weeks post‐C2 hemisection. The amount of regained ipsilateral intercostal muscle EMG activity was compared between male and female rats and samples collected confirmed complete hemisection.