Does the right side know what the left is doing?

Following peripheral-nerve lesions there are well-documented events that affect the contralateral nonlesioned structures. These contralateral effects are qualitatively similar to those occurring at the ipsilateral side, but are usually smaller in magnitude and have a briefer time course. It is uncle...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in Neurosciences 1999-03, Vol.22 (3), p.122-127
Main Authors: Koltzenburg, Martin, Wall, Patrick D., McMahon, Stephen B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Axons
Axotomy
Biological and medical sciences
Cranial nerves. Spinal roots. Peripheral nerves. Autonomic nervous system. Gustation. Olfaction
Functional Laterality - physiology
Growth Substances - physiology
Humans
Interneurons - physiology
Medical sciences
Mice
Models, Neurological
Motor Neurons - physiology
Nerve Degeneration
Nerve Regeneration
Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes)
Neurology
Neurons, Afferent - physiology
Neurotrophic factors
Pain
Peripheral Nerve Injuries
Ranidae
Rats
Sensory neurons
Signal Transduction
Spinal cord
Spinal Cord - physiopathology
Sympathetic Nervous System - injuries
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Following peripheral-nerve lesions there are well-documented events that affect the contralateral nonlesioned structures. These contralateral effects are qualitatively similar to those occurring at the ipsilateral side, but are usually smaller in magnitude and have a briefer time course. It is unclear whether the findings are an epiphenomenon or serve a biological purpose, but in either case the existence of these effects implies the presence of unrecognized signalling mechanisms that link the two sides of the body. Strong circumstantial evidence argues against a peripheral mechanism (for example, via circulating factors) and in favour of a central mechanism, in particular signalling via the system of commissural interneurons that is present in spinal cord and brainstem. While an altered pattern of activity in this system might underlie the phenomenon, there are several reasons for proposing that the changes depend upon chemical signals, possibly growth factors. Because of its relative easy access for experimental manipulation, the spinal cord could serve as a model system to study these transmedian signalling systems.
ISSN:0166-2236
1878-108X
DOI:10.1016/S0166-2236(98)01302-2