Ketogenic diet improves forelimb motor function after spinal cord injury in rodents.

High fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diets (KD) are validated non-pharmacological treatments for some forms of drug-resistant epilepsy. Ketones reduce neuronal excitation and promote neuroprotection. Here, we investigated the efficacy of KD as a treatment for acute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats.

Intermittent fasting in mice does not improve hindlimb motor performance after spinal cord injury.

Previously, we reported that every-other-day-fasting (EODF) in Sprague-Dawley rats initiated after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) effectively promoted functional recovery, reduced lesion size, and enhanced sprouting of the corticospinal tract. More recently, we also showed improved behavioral recovery with EODF after a moderate thoracic contusion injury in rats. In order to make use of transgenic mouse models to study molecular mechanisms of EODF, we tested here whether this intermittent fasting regimen was also beneficial in mice after SCI.

Intermittent fasting improves functional recovery after rat thoracic contusion spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in a loss of motor and sensory function. Currently there are no validated effective clinical treatments. Previously we found in rats that dietary restriction, in the form of every-other-day fasting (EODF), started prior to (pre-EODF), or after (post-EODF) an incomplete cervical SCI was neuroprotective, increased plasticity, and promoted motor recovery.

Prophylactic dietary restriction may promote functional recovery and increase lifespan after spinal cord injury.

Functional recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI) is limited, and the injury results in a dramatic reduction in long-term lifespan. Prophylactic dietary restriction (DR) robustly extends animal lifespan, and is beneficial in models of neuronal insult. In rats, we found that one form of DR, every-other-day-fasting (EODF), which started 1 month prior to a cervical SCI improved functional recovery, resulted in greater numbers of neurons surrounding the injury site, and a approximately 45% reduction in lesion size compared to the control group.

Dietary restriction started after spinal cord injury improves functional recovery.

Spinal cord injury typically results in limited functional recovery. Here we investigated whether therapeutic dietary restriction, a multi-faceted, safe, and clinically-feasible treatment, can improve outcome from cervical spinal cord injury. The well-established notion that dietary restriction increases longevity has kindled interest in its potential benefits in injury and disease.

Characterizing white matter damage in rat spinal cord with quantitative MRI and histology.

ABSTRACT Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and quantitative T(2) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to characterize ex vivo the white matter damage at 3 and 8 weeks following dorsal column transection (DC Tx) injury at the cervical level C5 of rat spinal cords. Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) and myelin basic protein (MBP) staining was used to assess myelin damage, and neurofilament-H in combination with neuron specific beta-III-tubulin (NF/Tub) staining was used to assess axonal damage. Average values of myelin water fraction (MWF), fractional anisotropy (FA), longitudinal diffusivity (D(long)), transverse diffusivity (D(trans)), and average diffusivity (D(ave)) were calculated in the fasciculus gracilis, fasciculus cuneatus, and the dorsal corticospinal tract (CST) 5 mm cranial, as well as 5 and 10 mm caudal to injury and correlated with histology.

Anterior fracture-dislocation is more severe than lateral: a biomechanical and neuropathological comparison in rat thoracolumbar spine.

ABSTRACT Fracture-dislocation is one of the most common causes of spinal cord injury (SCI) in human adults, yet it is not widely studied experimentally. Clinical studies have found that anterior fracture-dislocation occurs more commonly and produces greater neurological deficit than lateral fracture-dislocation. However, the effect of loading direction on SCI neuropathology has not been investigated experimentally and the reasons behind these clinical differences are not known.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene transfer with adeno-associated viral and lentiviral vectors prevents rubrospinal neuronal atrophy and stimulates regeneration-associated gene expression after acute cervical spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Experimental animal study.

Objective: To determine if viral vectors carrying the gene for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) could be used to promote an axonal regenerative response in rubrospinal neurons after an acute cervical spinal cord injury.

Summary Of Background Data: Following axotomy in the cervical spinal cord, rubrospinal neurons undergo severe atrophy and fail to up-regulate important genes for regeneration.

Contusion, dislocation, and distraction: primary hemorrhage and membrane permeability in distinct mechanisms of spinal cord injury.

Object: In experimental models of spinal cord injury (SCI) researchers have typically focused on contusion and transection injuries. Clinically, however, other injury mechanisms such as fracture-dislocation and distraction also frequently occur. The objective of the present study was to compare the primary damage in three clinically relevant animal models of SCI.