OEG implantation and step training enhance hindlimb-stepping ability in adult spinal transected rats.

ABSTRACT: Numerous treatment strategies for spinal cord injury seek to maximize recovery of function and two strategies that show substantial promise are olfactory bulb-derived olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) transplantation and treadmill step training. In this study we re-examined the issue of the effectiveness of OEG implantation but used objective, quantitative measures of motor performance to test if there is a complementary effect of long-term step training and olfactory bulb-derived OEG implantation. We studied complete mid-thoracic spinal cord transected adult female rats and compared four experimental groups: media-untrained, media-trained, OEG-untrained and OEG-trained. To assess the extent of hindlimb locomotor recovery at 4 and 7 months post-transection we used three quantitative measure

SUBMITTER: Kubasak MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2916741 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature