“Elucidating the mechanisms underlying the reorganization of compensatory neural circuits in a primate model of spinal cord injury”

Lesions of the corticospinal tract (CST) cause spinal cord injury (SCI) that is characterized by motor impairments involved in the spinal levels below the lesions. It has been considered that compensatory events due to plastic changes of CST neurons exert essential roles in recovery of motor functions after SCI. However, the mechanisms underlying the functional recovery and CST reorganization remain unclear. The purpose of the present work is to identify the compensatory changes of CST circuits and elucidate the mechanisms underlying the functional recovery from SCI in adult macaques. To do so, neuroanatomical approaches are taken using anterograde and retrograde tracings and transneuronal labeling with rabies virus. In this study, a primate model of SCI is prepared by unilateral lesions at the level between the C7 and the C8 spinal segment. Also, both the Brinkman board test and the reaching/grasping task are applied for behavioral analyses of dexterous manual movements.

Recent Publications
1. McCairn KW, Nagai Y, Hori Y, Ninomiya T, Kikuchi E, Lee J-Y, Suhara T, Iriki A, Minamimoto T,Takada M, Isoda M, Matsumoto M (2016) A primary role for nucleus accumbens and related
limbic network in vocal tics. Neuron 89:300-307
2. Kawai T, Yamada H, Sato N, Takada M, Matsumoto M (2015) Roles of the lateral habenula and anterior cingulate cortex in negative outcome monitoring and behavioral adjustment in
nonhuman primates. Neuron 88:792-804.
3. Inoue K, Takada M, Matsumoto M (2015) Neuronal and behavioral modulations by pathway-selective optogenetic stimulation of the primate oculomotor system. Nat Commun 6:8378.
4. Nakagawa H, Ninomiya T, Yamashita T, Takada M (2015) Reorganization of corticospinal tract fibers after spinal cord injury in adult macaques. Sci Rep 5:11986.

Posted:2016/03/10