Changes in the Axonal Membrane Potential and Ca²⁺ Concentration Associated with Peripheral Nerve Grafting after Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

We performed peripheral nerve allografting in rats with spinal cord injury, and measured motor function and axonal membrane potential as well as Ca²⁺ concentration of the nerve grafting spinal cord area by using a behavior observation system and a confocal laser-scanning microscope, respectively. In our experiments, we produced a model of peripheral nerve grafting after spinal cord injury by peripheral nerve allografting (sciatic nerve) in rats with spinal cord injury (thoracic cord hemisection). The group with spinal cord injury that underwent peripheral nerve grafting showed improvement in motor function, a significant increase in the axonal action potential, and a slight increase in the Ca²⁺ concentration compared with the group that did not undergo nerve grafting.