Journal of neurotrauma
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2016
Chronic contusion spinal cord injury impairs ejaculatory reflexes in male rats: Partial recovery by systemic infusions of dopamine D3 receptor agonist 7OHDPAT.
Chronic spinal cord injury (SCI) causes major disruption of ejaculatory function in men. Ejaculation is a reflex and the spinal generator for ejaculatory reflexes in the rat has been located in the lumbosacral spinal cord. The effects of SCI on the rat spinal ejaculation generator and ejaculatory reflexes remain understudied. ⋯ Male rats received a contusion injury at T6-T7 and effects of systemic administration of 7OHDPAT (1 mg/kg) were tested 4-5 weeks following injury. Results showed that 7OHDPAT administration facilitated ejaculatory reflexes in SCI males with or without DPN stimulation, provided that supraspinal inputs to the lumbar cord were severed by transection just prior to evaluating the reflex. Thus, 7OHDPAT administration in SCI males was able to overcome the detrimental effects of SCI on ejaculatory reflexes.
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2016
Longitudinal evaluation of residual cortical and subcortical motor evoked potentials in spinal cord injured rats.
We have applied transcranial electrical stimulation to rats with spinal cord injury and selectively tested the motor evoked potentials (MEPs) conveyed by descending motor pathways with cortical and subcortical origin. MEPs were elicited by electrical stimulation to the brain and recorded on the tibialis anterior muscles. Stimulation parameters were characterized and changes in MEP responses tested in uninjured rats, in rats with mild or moderate contusion, and in animals with complete transection of the spinal cord. ⋯ Substantial motor deficits developed in rats with moderate contusion, and these rats had completely eliminated N1 and N2 MEPs. Animals with complete cord transection had abolished N1 and N2 and showed severe impairment of locomotion. The results indicate the reliability of MEP testing to longitudinally evaluate over time the degree of impairment of cortical and subcortical spinal pathways after spinal cord injuries of different severity.
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2016
Comment LetterLetter to the Editor concerning Evaniew et al, Methylprednisolone for the Treatment of Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injuries: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study from a Canadian Multi-Center Spinal Cord Injury Registry. J. Neurotrauma 32:1674-1683, November 1, 2015.
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Journal of neurotrauma · May 2016
Persisting effects of concussion on heart rate variability during physical exertion.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiac autonomic modulation in university athletes during the post-acute to late phase (mean, 95 days ±63) of injury at rest and during physical exertion. We also sought to evaluate the effect of time since injury and number of injuries on heart rate variability (HRV). We hypothesized that physical exertion would reveal persisting modifications in HRV following a concussion. ⋯ Thus, asymptomatic athletes still may exhibit modifications in cardiac autonomic modulation weeks to months following injury. These modifications may only become apparent during physical exertion. Monitoring HRV may aid diagnosis and provide insight about safe return to play.