Biomaterial Database

Embryonic cord transplants in peripheral nerve restore skeletal muscle function. 2000

C K Thomas, and D E Erb, and R M Grumbles, and R P Bunge

The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis and Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami 33136, Florida, USA. cthomas@miamiproject.med.miami.edu

The rapid atrophy of skeletal muscle after denervation severely compromises efforts to restore muscle function. We have transplanted embryonic day 14-15 (E14-E15) ventral spinal cord cells into adult Fischer rat tibial nerve stump to provide neurons for reinnervation. Our aim was to evaluate medial gastrocnemius reinnervation physiologically because this transplant strategy will only be effective if the reinnervated muscle contracts, generates sufficient force to induce joint movement, and is fatigue resistant enough to shorten repeatedly. Twelve weeks posttransplantation, brief duration electrical stimuli applied to the transplants induced medial gastrocnemius contractions that were strong enough to produce ankle movement in 4 of 12 rats (33%). The force of these four "low-threshold" reinnervated muscles and control muscles declined only gradually during five hours of intermittent, supramaximal stimulation and without depression of EMG potential area, which is strong evidence of functional neuromuscular junctions and fatigue resistant muscles. Sectioning of the medial gastrocnemius nerves confirmed that these contractions were innervation dependent. Weakness in low-threshold reinnervated muscles (8% control force) related to incomplete reinnervation, reductions in muscle fiber size, specific tension, and/or the presence of nonfunctional neuromuscular junctions. Muscle reinnervation achieved using this novel transplantation strategy may salvage completely denervated muscle and may provide the potential to evoke limb movement when injury or disease precludes or delays peripheral axon regeneration.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D009121	Muscle Denervation	The resection or removal of the innervation of a muscle or muscle tissue.	Denervation, Muscle,Denervations, Muscle,Muscle Denervations
D009416	Nerve Regeneration	Renewal or physiological repair of damaged nerve tissue.	Nerve Tissue Regeneration,Nervous Tissue Regeneration,Neural Tissue Regeneration,Nerve Tissue Regenerations,Nervous Tissue Regenerations,Neural Tissue Regenerations,Regeneration, Nerve,Regeneration, Nerve Tissue,Regeneration, Nervous Tissue,Regeneration, Neural Tissue,Tissue Regeneration, Nerve,Tissue Regeneration, Nervous,Tissue Regeneration, Neural
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011916	Rats, Inbred F344	An inbred strain of rat that is used for general BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH purposes.	Fischer Rats,Rats, Inbred CDF,Rats, Inbred Fischer 344,Rats, F344,Rats, Inbred Fisher 344,CDF Rat, Inbred,CDF Rats, Inbred,F344 Rat,F344 Rat, Inbred,F344 Rats,F344 Rats, Inbred,Inbred CDF Rat,Inbred CDF Rats,Inbred F344 Rat,Inbred F344 Rats,Rat, F344,Rat, Inbred CDF,Rat, Inbred F344,Rats, Fischer
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001369	Axons	Nerve fibers that are capable of rapidly conducting impulses away from the neuron cell body.	Axon
D013116	Spinal Cord	A cylindrical column of tissue that lies within the vertebral canal. It is composed of WHITE MATTER and GRAY MATTER.	Coccygeal Cord,Conus Medullaris,Conus Terminalis,Lumbar Cord,Medulla Spinalis,Myelon,Sacral Cord,Thoracic Cord,Coccygeal Cords,Conus Medullari,Conus Terminali,Cord, Coccygeal,Cord, Lumbar,Cord, Sacral,Cord, Spinal,Cord, Thoracic,Cords, Coccygeal,Cords, Lumbar,Cords, Sacral,Cords, Spinal,Cords, Thoracic,Lumbar Cords,Medulla Spinali,Medullari, Conus,Medullaris, Conus,Myelons,Sacral Cords,Spinal Cords,Spinali, Medulla,Spinalis, Medulla,Terminali, Conus,Terminalis, Conus,Thoracic Cords
D013979	Tibial Nerve	The medial terminal branch of the sciatic nerve. The tibial nerve fibers originate in lumbar and sacral spinal segments (L4 to S2). They supply motor and sensory innervation to parts of the calf and foot.	Medial Plantar Nerve,Posterior Tibial Nerve,Medial Plantar Nerves,Nerve, Medial Plantar,Nerve, Posterior Tibial,Nerve, Tibial,Nerves, Medial Plantar,Nerves, Posterior Tibial,Nerves, Tibial,Plantar Nerve, Medial,Plantar Nerves, Medial,Posterior Tibial Nerves,Tibial Nerve, Posterior,Tibial Nerves,Tibial Nerves, Posterior