NEURAL REORGANIZATION AFTER ANTEROLATERAL CORDOTOMY

我们的长期目标是确定功能或结构的性质， 在灵长类动物脊髓中发生的重组， 前外侧脊髓切断术，并将这些变化与损失和 随后恢复感觉功能。 这种延迟的感觉恢复 功能通常发生在人类， 脊髓切断术 实验工作将集中在寻求改变 脊髓背角内的神经元连接。 研究 灵长类动物背角的神经连接已经得到了资助 在美国国立卫生研究院资助#NS14899。 近期目标是建立一个神经重组模型， 脊髓切断术在大鼠，使用解剖，生理，和免疫细胞化学 适用于灵长类动物实验的技术，但不参考 行为改变 这种模式可能是最富有成效的 在猴子身上使用的调查技术迅速， 低成本 最初的重点将放在展示差异上 对照组和实验组动物在（1）中央分支 初级传入纤维的模式，和（2）免疫细胞化学 背角内肽的染色模式。 的完整性 脊髓丘脑束断面和同侧脊髓丘脑束的范围 将通过逆行HRP研究评估束投射。 在未来，在大鼠模型中似乎最有前途的技术 将在灵长类动物实验中得到强调。 功能或 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， 测试参数已在本实验室使用。 这个项目 提供了一个理想的机会，为候选人追求她的研究 兴趣，同时学习解剖，生理和免疫细胞化学 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.