Functional switch between motor tracts in the presence of the mAb IN-1 in the adult rat

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001 Jun 5;98(12):6929-34. doi: 10.1073/pnas.111165498. Epub 2001 May 29.

Abstract

Fine finger and hand movements in humans, monkeys, and rats are under the direct control of the corticospinal tract (CST). CST lesions lead to severe, long-term deficits of precision movements. We transected completely both CSTs in adult rats and treated the animals for 2 weeks with an antibody that neutralized the central nervous system neurite growth inhibitory protein Nogo-A (mAb IN-1). Anatomical studies of the rubrospinal tracts showed that the number of collaterals innervating the cervical spinal cord doubled in the mAb IN-1- but not in the control antibody-treated animals. Precision movements of the forelimb and fingers were severely impaired in the controls, but almost completely recovered in the mAb IN-1-treated rats. Low threshold microstimulation of the motor cortex induced a rapid forelimb electromyography response that was mediated by the red nucleus in the mAb IN-1 animals but not in the controls. These findings demonstrate an unexpectedly high capacity of the adult central nervous system motor system to sprout and reorganize in a targeted and functionally meaningful way.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Male
  • Motor Cortex / physiology*
  • Myelin Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Myelin Proteins / physiology*
  • Nogo Proteins
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred Lew
  • Red Nucleus / physiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Nogo Proteins
  • RTN4 protein, human
  • Rtn4 protein, rat