Rodent spinal cord injury models for studies of axon regeneration

Abstract

For over a century, axon regeneration has been considered the Holy Grail for spinal cord injury (SCI) repair. Although there are other factors that could contribute to improving function, restoring the long motor and sensory tracts that are interrupted by SCI has the greatest potential for actually reversing paralysis, restoring the brain's control of autonomic functions mediated by sympathetic and parasympathetic circuits of the spinal cord and restoring sensation. Accordingly and in keeping with the overall theme of this special issue, this review focuses narrowly on rodent SCI models for studies of axon regeneration.

Keywords: BDA; Biotinylated dextran amine; CST; Corticospinal tract; Motor cortex; Mouse; Rat; Reticulospinal tract; Rubrospinal tract; Sensorimotor cortex; Tract tracing.