Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
Board

Unilateral damage to the sensorimotor cortex (SMC) has been shown to cause morphological changes in the contralateral cortex that are believed to be enhanced when motor exercise occurs within the recovery period. This study investigated whether similar compensatory reactions may be found in the cerebellum. Rats were divided into two surgical groups: a lesion group receiving bilateral electrolytic lesions of the forelimb representational area of the SMC, and a sham group receiving the same surgical procedure up to removal of the skull. Animals were further divided into three behavioral treatment groups, with an equal representation of lesion and sham animals: an acrobatic condition (AC) receiving motor skill learning, a motor condition (MC) receiving motor exercise but no skill learning, and an inactive control (IC) receiving no significant motor experience. Behavioral data indicate AC-lesion animals make more foot placement errors than AC-sham, though both retain the ability to learn new motor skills. Tissue was investigated via standard immunohistochemical procedures and densitometry. Analyses of AMPA receptor staining demonstrates density increases in both AC and MC lesion animals compared to shams, revealing a possible compensatory action of the cerebellum. IC lesion animals show a decrease in AMPA receptor density, possibly due to deafferentation.

Back to the top.
Presentation Number SApowell0848
Keywords: motor cortex, cerebellum, glutamate, exercise, learning