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Vulnerability of the Medial Frontal Corticospinal Projection Accompanies Combined Lateral Frontal and Parietal Cortex Injury in Rhesus Monkey
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Vulnerability of the Medial Frontal Corticospinal Projection Accompanies Combined Lateral Frontal and Parietal Cortex Injury in Rhesus Monkey

R.J Morecraft, J Ge, K.S Stilwell-Morecraft, D.W McNeal, S.M Hynes, M.A Pizzimenti, D.L Rotella and W.G Darling
Journal of comparative neurology (1911), Vol.523(4), pp.669-697
03/01/2015
DOI: 10.1002/cne.23703
PMCID: PMC4304964
PMID: 25349147
url
http://doi.org/10.1002/cne.23703View
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Abstract

Concurrent damage to the lateral frontal and parietal cortex is common following middle cerebral artery infarction leading to upper extremity paresis, paresthesia and sensory loss. Motor recovery is often poor and the mechanisms that support, or impede this process are unclear. Since the medial wall of the cerebral hemisphere is commonly spared following stroke, we investigated the long-term (6 and 12 month) effects of lateral frontoparietal injury (F2P2 lesion) on the terminal distribution of the corticospinal projection (CSP) from intact, ipsilesional supplementary motor cortex (M2) at spinal levels C5 to T1. Isolated injury to the frontoparietal arm/hand region resulted in a significant loss of contralateral corticospinal boutons from M2 compared to controls. Specifically, reductions occurred in the medial and lateral parts of lamina VII and the dorsal quadrants of lamina IX. There were no statistical differences in the ipsilateral corticospinal projection. Contrary to isolated lateral frontal motor injury (F2 lesion) which results in substantial increases in contralateral M2 labeling in laminae VII and IX ( McNeal et al., Journal of Comparative Neurology 518:586-621, 2010 ), the added effect of adjacent parietal cortex injury to the frontal motor lesion (F2P2 lesion) not only impedes a favorable compensatory neuroplastic response, but results in a substantial loss of M2 CSP terminals. This dramatic reversal of the CSP response suggests a critical trophic role for cortical somatosensory influence on spared ipsilesional frontal corticospinal projections, and that restoration of a favorable compensatory response will require therapeutic intervention.
Pyramidal Tract Frontal Lobe Spinal Cord Neurosurgical Resection Plasticity Motor Recovery Parietal Lobe Corticofugal Hand Movements

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