HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 97/3/1986    most recent 00818.2006v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (4) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Barthélemy, D. Articles by Rossignol, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Barthélemy, D. Articles by Rossignol, S.

Characteristics and Mechanisms of Locomotion Induced by Intraspinal Microstimulation and Dorsal Root Stimulation in Spinal Cats

Centre de Recherche en Sciences Neurologiques, Département de Physiologie, Pavillon Paul-G.-Desmarais, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Submitted 5 August 2006; accepted in final form 9 January 2007

Intraspinal microstimulation (ISMS) through a single microelectrode can induce locomotion in cats spinalized at T₁₃ 1 wk before (untrained) or after 3–5 wk of treadmill training. Here we study the optimal parameters of ISMS and the characteristics of locomotion evoked. ISMS was applied in the dorsal region of segments L₃–S₁ at different lateralities (midline to 2.5 mm) and after an intravenous injection of clonidine (noradrenergic agonist). Kinematics and electromyographic recordings were used to characterize locomotion. ISMS could induce a bilateral locomotor pattern similar to that obtained with perineal stimulation, and the characteristics of locomotion varied according to the spinal segment stimulated. Mechanisms by which ISMS could evoke locomotion were then investigated by stimulating, inactivating, or lesioning different spinal structures. Dorsal root stimulation (DRS), just like ISMS, could evoke a variety of ipsi- and bilateral nonlocomotor movements as well as locomotor responses. This suggests that sensory afferent pathways are involved in the production of locomotion by ISMS. Microinjections of yohimbine (noradrenergic antagonist) in L₃ and L₄ segments or a complete second spinal lesion at L₃–L₄ abolished all locomotor activity evoked by ISMS applied at more caudal segments. Progressive dorsoventral spinal lesions at L₃ or L₄ and restricted ventral lesions at L₄ further suggest that the integrity of the ventral or ventrolateral funiculi as well as the L₃–L₄ segments are critical for the induction of locomotion by ISMS at L₅ to S₁ or by DRS at these caudal segments.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. P. Gerasimenko, R. M. Ichiyama, I. A. Lavrov, G. Courtine, L. Cai, H. Zhong, R. R. Roy, and V. R. Edgerton Epidural Spinal Cord Stimulation Plus Quipazine Administration Enable Stepping in Complete Spinal Adult Rats J Neurophysiol, November 1, 2007; 98(5): 2525 - 2536. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]