Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Spinal cord injury induced spasticity (increased muscle tone) in the trunk muscles can significantly
hinder the individuals ability to perform transfers, effectively move their head and extremities, decrease
the efficacy of their breathing, and lead to development of pressure sores. Currently, gaps exist in our
knowledge of what causes spasticity, especially regarding the trunk musculature. These knowledge gaps
limited the type and efficacy of treatment options. Glutamate is the major excitatory stimulus to
motoneurons, the cells of the spinal cord which turn on muscles. The goals of this proposal are: 1) to
determine the effects of spinal transection on the number of glutamatergic inputs to motoneurons below
the transection, 2) to correlate these changes with the development of spasticity within tail musculature,
which is similar to trunk musculature, and 3) to examine the ability of riluzole and gabapentin, two
drugs which selectively interfere with glutamate stimulus, to decrease spasticity within the tail
musculature. Results from these experiments will further define the role of glutamate in the development
of spasticity and assess the efficacy of two clinically available drugs in the management ofSCI-induced
spasticity.
Status | Finished |
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Effective start/end date | 1/1/05 → 1/11/05 |
Funding
- Paralyzed Veterans of America: $68,329.00
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