UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI
Grant: $44,627 - National Institutes of Health - Jul. 20, 2009
0% voted satisfied - 100% voted not satisfied - 1 vote(s) cast
Join the conversation: Post a comment about this award
Award Description: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition which results in lifelong disability. To date there exists no treatment that can restore significant function to persons with SCI. We have previously demonstrated that a combinatory strategy of Schwann cell (SC) implantation and cyclic AMP elevation in an experimental rodent model of contusive SCI can significantly improve long-tract descending axon growth and lead to improved functional recovery [Pearse et al., 2004; Nat Med.]. For these studies cyclic AMP was administered to the site of the lesion as this signaling molecule has been shown to allow axons to grow over inhibitory substrates such as myelin. However, cyclic AMP can also act at the site of the cell body, mediating transcriptional changes that are also important for promoting axon regeneration. The goal of the current studies was to determine the optimal location for elevating cyclic AMP after contusive SCI (axon, cell body or both) in SC implanted animals as assessed by serotonergic axon growth and functional recovery.
Project Description: Activities for this Quarter: Goal: Enact surgeries, treatments and behavioral testing for the study examining the optimal location of cyclic AMP elevation after contusive SCI in SC implanted rats. Spinal cord injury in female Fischer rats [8 groups x 12 rats, n=96] Schwann cell implants and cAMP elevation treatments Behavioral testing x 8 weeks [BBB scoring, catwalk and gridwalk testing] Animal perfusion and tissue preparation for sectioning Future Goal: Completion of functional data analysis and histological examination of tissue specimens to allow determination of the optimal cyclic AMP delivery strategy
Jobs Summary: Prime receipient was able to employ two summer students as Research Trainees. (Total jobs reported: 1)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jul. 20, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
No comments have been added for this project.