Spinal cord transection induced c-Fos protein in the rat motor cortex

• Published in: Brain research Vol. 792; no. 1; pp. 164 - 167
• Main Authors: Ikeda, Satoshi, Nakagawa, Shiro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Elsevier B.V 04.05.1998; Amsterdam Elsevier; New York, NY
• Subjects: Animals; Axotomy; Biological and medical sciences; c-Fos immunohistochemistry; Cordotomy; Frontal cortex; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hindlimb - innervation; Hindlimb - physiology; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Immunohistochemistry; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Motor cortex; Motor Cortex - metabolism; Neuronal Plasticity - physiology; Plasticity; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Spinal Cord - physiology; Spinal cord injury; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Axotomy; c-Fos immunohistochemistry; Frontal cortex; Spinal cord injury; Motor cortex; Plasticity; Spinal cord; Motor pathway; Rat; Rodentia; Central nervous system; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Lesion; Protooncogene; Brain (vertebrata); Immediate early gene
• ISSN: 0006-8993; 1872-6240
• DOI: 10.1016/S0006-8993(98)00213-3

Spinal cord transection at the middle thoracic level induced the expression of c-Fos protein in the rat motor cortex detected with the immunohistochemical study. At 1 h after transection, maximal expression of c-Fos was seen in the frontal cortex and hindlimb area of the cortex. c-Fos-like immunoreactive neurons were recognized in the second to sixth layers of these cortices, although the axotomized neurons were located only in the fifth layer of these cortices. A significant difference of c-Fos-like protein expression was observed between the spinal transected group and the sham operated group 1 h after the operation. These results indicate that each layer of the motor cortical column is activated and that there is a correlation between alteration of the neuronal network and functional plasticity.