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Differential modulation of crossed and uncrossed reflex pathways by clonidine in adult cats following complete spinal cord injury
Author(s) -
Frigon Alain,
Johnson Michael D.,
Heckman C. J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.222208
Subject(s) - clonidine , hindlimb , cats , spinal cord , reflex , medicine , stimulation , decerebrate state , spinal cord injury , anesthesia , tibial nerve , anatomy , neuroscience , endocrinology , biology , electric stimulation , psychiatry
Non‐technical summary Clonidine, a noradrenaline‐like drug, facilitates the recovery of hindlimb walking in adult cats following a complete spinal cord injury.We show that clonidine improves operation of reflex pathways that coordinate bilateral hindlimb activity in cats after spinal cord injury. In addition, sensory signals from the periphery more easily activate the spinal network involved in producing locomotion following clonidine injection.These results show that spinal neurons that produce locomotion and coordinate bilateral activity become more excitable with clonidine.These data could help identify neurons of the spinal locomotor network and lead to a better pharmacotherapy in spinal cord‐injured humans.