Influence of glial cells on survival, axonal regeneration and synaptic plasticity of spinal motoneurons after peripheral and central injury

Author(s)

Camila Marques Freria

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
• Defense date: 2013-02-22

Examining board members

Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira; Guilherme de Araújo Lucas; Flávia Carvalho Alcantara Gomes; Fábio Rogério; Lucia Elvira Alvares

• Advisor: Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira

Abstract

Central or peripheral lesions result in local and retrograde inflammation, leading to axonal degeneration, synaptic and/or neuronal loss. Additionally, after injury, reactive glial cells are recruited to the lesion site, influencing the plasticity of the nervous system. The mechanisms which trigger such changes are not completely understood, but evidences have shown that molecules classically related to the immune system are involved in such events directly or indirectly by glial modulation. Based on this, our hypotheses is that the control of inflammatory signaling after central or peripheral injury may indirectly affect the endogenous repair mechanisms, resulting in a greater synaptic preservation and better functional recovery. In this sense, animals were submitted to both central and peripheral lesions in order to investigate the effects of glial cells on neuron survival, axonal regeneration and synaptic plasticity. The results showed that, after lesion, the modulation of inflammatory signaling by cytokines or knocking down molecules on glial surface, directly or indirectly influence the stability of neural circuits, neuronal survival and axonal regeneration. Thus, we believe that this is important findings that may be critical to the development of new therapeutic strategies following nervous system injury (AU)