Spinal Cord Injury Impairs Neurogenesis and

Induces Glial Reactivity in the Hippocampus

Ignacio Jure1 · Luciana Pietranera1,2 · Alejandro F. De Nicola1,2 · Florencia Labombarda1,2
Laboratorio de Bioquímica Neuroendocrina, Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 C1121 ABG, Buenos Aires, Argentina

INTRODUCTION METHODS Regarding the hippocampus, we

observed that neurogenesis and
hilar neurons were reduced after
The incorporation of newborn neurons with severe SCI, while only neuro-
increased synaptic remodeling and activity- genesis decreased in the
moderately injured group. In
dependent plas- ticity in the dentate gyrus
addi- tion, severe SCI induced
enhances hippocampal-depend- ent learning reactive microglia and astrogliosis
performances. Astrocytes and microglial in all dentate gyrus sub-regions.
cells are components of the neurogenic Furthermore, the density of
reactive microglia increased in the
niche and regulate neurogenesis under
hilus whereas astro- gliosis
normal and neurophatological condi- tions developed in the molecular layer
leading to functional consequences for after moderate SCI. No changes
learning and memory. Although cognitive were observed in the mildly
impairments were reported in patients after injured rats.
These results suggest glial
spinal cord injury (SCI), only few studies
response and neurogenesis are
have considered remote changes in brain associated with injury intensity.
structures which are not related with Interestingly, hippocampal
sensory and motor cortex. Thus, we neurogenesis is more sensitive to
SCI than astrocytes or microglia
examined neurogenesis and glial reactivity
reaction, as moderate injury
by stereologi- cal assessment in dentate impairs the genera- tion of new
gyrus sub-regions after three di erent
intensities of thoracic spinal cord
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION neurons without changing glial
response in the subgranular zone.
compression in rats. Sixty days after injury
we observed a decrease in the Basso– CONCLUSION
The incorporation of neurogenesis enhances hippocampal -
Bresnahan–Beattie locomotor scale scores, dependent learning performances. Cognitive impairments were
rotarod performance and volume of spare reported after SCI.  After the experiment, we conclude that
tissue that cor- related with the severity of every severe SCI, neurogenesis and hilar neurons will reduce
on its normal count means that the glial reactivty will be
the compression.
induced, while moderate SCI will reduce only in neurogenesis.
No changes were observed in mildy SCI.