Asynchronous therapy restores motor control by rewiring of the rat corticospinal tract after stroke

The brain exhibits limited capacity for spontaneous restoration of lost motor functions after stroke. Rehabilitation is the prevailing clinical approach to augment functional recovery, but the scientific basis is poorly understood. Here, we show nearly full recovery of skilled forelimb functions in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2014-06, Vol.344 (6189), p.1250-1255
Main Authors: Wahl, A. S., Omlor, W., Rubio, J. C., Chen, J. L., Zheng, H., Schröter, A., Gullo, M., Weinmann, O., Kobayashi, K., Helmchen, F., Ommer, B., Schwab, M. E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioral neuroscience
Electromyography
Forelimbs
Motor ability
Motor cortex
Neurology
Neurons
Physical therapy
Proteins
Researchers
Spinal cord
Sprouting
Stroke
Strokes
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Summary:The brain exhibits limited capacity for spontaneous restoration of lost motor functions after stroke. Rehabilitation is the prevailing clinical approach to augment functional recovery, but the scientific basis is poorly understood. Here, we show nearly full recovery of skilled forelimb functions in rats with large strokes when a growth-promoting immunotherapy against a neurite growth–inhibitory protein was applied to boost the sprouting of new fibers, before stabilizing the newly formed circuits by intensive training. In contrast, early high-intensity training during the growth phase destroyed the effect and led to aberrant fiber patterns. Pharmacogenetic experiments identified a subset of corticospinal fibers originating in the intact half of the forebrain, side-switching in the spinal cord to newly innervate the impaired limb and restore skilled motor function.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1253050