Autonomic dysfunction and neural circuit rewiring in spinal cord injury

Abstract

Spinal cord injury causes a wide range of impairments in autonomic functions due to disruption of sympathetic and parasympathetic circuitry. Autonomic impairments such as in micturition, thermoregulation, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, sexual, and immune function severely affect the quality of life of patients. However, the underlying neural mechanisms that impair or recover the autonomic functions have not been well studied in spinal cord injury, compared to those of the motor and sensory systems. In this paper, I review the current status of basic research on the autonomic system in spinal cord injury and discuss about future prospects in this field. Understanding the processes disrupting the circuits as well as repairing such as by neural stimulation and regeneration will contribute to develop novel therapeutic approaches to restore autonomic functions.