Novel Spinal Tract Reporters (Novel Vestibulospinal Approach to Enhancing Post-SCI Respiratory Function)

Abstract Close to 60% of all spinal cord injury (SCI) cases are at the cervical. At this level are the critical circuitry necessary for the life essential function of breathing. Expectedly, cervical SCI can leave those unable to breathe independently and reliant upon mechanical ventilation in order to survive. As a consequence, those afflicted need specialized health care in order to prevent secondary complications including infection, lung injury, and atelectasis. This proposal seeks to investigate the potential of vestibulospinal stimulation in order to return breathing function. Indeed, preliminary studies have indicated that vestibulospinal pathways can stimulate or modulate breathing function. Moreover, recent transgenic animal models has allowed the specific labelling and targeting of these pathways. The hypothesis to be tested is that vestibulospinal pathways are a potential anatomical substrate which we can target, stimulate, and return breathing function. Towards testing this hypothesis we will perform experimental cervical SCI in these animals and stimulate these pathways while recording breathing function. If successful, these experiments can potentially lead to the development of clinically relevant therapeutic techniques.