NEURAL REORGANIZATION AFTER ANTEROLATERAL CORDOTOMY

我们的长期目标是确定功能性或结构性的性质 发生在灵长类动物脊髓中的重组 前外侧脊髓切断术，并将这些变化与丢失和 随后感觉功能的恢复。这种感觉恢复的延迟 功能通常发生在人类在最初成功的 脐带切断术。试验性的工作将集中在寻找改变 脊髓背角内的神经元连接。关于网络信息技术的研究 灵长类动物背角的神经重新连接已经得到了资助 根据美国国立卫生研究院#NS14899号拨款。 近期的目标是创建一种神经重组模型， 大鼠脊髓切断术，应用解剖、生理和免疫细胞化学方法 适用于灵长类实验的技术，但不参考 行为上的改变。这一模式可能预示着最有成效的 在猴子身上快速和相对地使用调查技巧 低成本。最初的重点将放在展示差异上。 对照动物与实验动物在(1)中枢树枝形成中的差异 初级传入纤维的形态，以及(2)免疫细胞化学 背角内的多肽染色图案。的完备性 脊髓丘脑束切面与同侧棘丘脑的范围 将通过逆行HRP研究来评估骨束预测。 在未来，在老鼠模型中看起来最有希望的技术 将在灵长类动物实验中得到强调。功能或功能上的变化 灵长类动物背角的结构组织将与 脊髓切断术后感觉功能的丧失和恢复 测试本实验室已在使用的参数。这个项目 为候选人提供了继续她的研究的理想机会 兴趣，同时学习解剖学、生理学和免疫细胞化学 调查技术。

Our long term goal is to determine the nature of functional or structural reorganization that occurs in the primate spinal cord following anterolateral cordotomy, and to correlate these changes with loss and subsequent recovery of sensory function. Such delayed recovery of sensory function occurs commonly in humans following an initially successful cordotomy. Experimental work will center upon a search for change in neuronal connectivity within the spinal dorsal horn. Research on the neural reconnectivity of the primate dorsal horn has already been funded under NIH grant #NS14899. The immediate goal is to create a model of neural reorganization after cordotomy in the rat, using anatomic, physiologic, and immunocytochemical techniques applicable to the primate experiments, but without reference to behavioral changes. This model may indicate the most fruitful investigative techniques to be used in the monkey rapidly and at relatively low cost. Initial emphasis will be placed upon demonstrating differences between control and experimental animals in (1) the central arborization patterns of primary afferent fibers, and (2) the immunocytochemical staining patterns of peptides within the dorsal horn. The completeness of spinothalamic tract section and the extent of ipsilateral spinothalamic tract projections will be assessed through retrograde HRP studies. In the future, the techniques that seem most promising in the rat model will be emphasized in the primate experiments. Changes in functional or structural organization of the primate dorsal horn will be correlated with loss and recovery of sensory function after cordotomy, through behavioral testing parameters already in use in this laboratory. This project provides an ideal opportunity for the candidate to pursue her research interests, while learning anatomic, physiologic, and immunocytochemical investigational techniques.