Spatiotemporal Remodeling of Enteric Neural Pathways Underlies ColonicDysmotility Following Spinal Cord Injury in Rats
- Author:
Min Seob KIM
1
;
Sei KIM
;
Se Eun HA
;
Hyun Seok CHOI
;
Myeong Hwan YU
;
Jisong YOU
;
Dahyun SEON
;
Do Hee LEE
;
Min Cheol JOO
;
Yong Sung KIM
;
Suck Chei CHOI
;
Joong Goo KWON
;
Kyung Sik PARK
;
Hyun Jin KIM
;
Seungil RO
;
Moon Young LEE
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility 2026;32(1):86-98
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background/Aims:Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently impairs defecation, severely affecting the quality of life. This study examines compensatory neural remodeling after SCI, focusing on basal colonic contractility, neural responses to electrical field stimulation, and alterations in excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory nitrergic pathways.
Methods:Female Sprague–Dawley rats underwent either sham surgery or T10 spinal cord transection and were categorized into 3 groups: sham, 1-week post-SCI (acute), and 4-week post-SCI (chronic). Colonic contractility was assessed in an organ bath using electrical field stimulation in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Neural protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting.
Results:SCI produced region- and time-dependent impairments in colonic contractility, with distinct alterations in the proximal circular and longitudinal muscles across acute and chronic phases. Neural excitability shifted dynamically, showing enhanced excitatory activity in the proximal longitudinal muscle at 1-week and the distal circular muscle at 4-week post-SCI. Protein analysis revealed increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the proximal colon, decreasedsoluble guanylyl cyclase in the distal colon, upregulated muscarinic M3 receptor in the proximal colon, and reduced vaso-active intestinal peptide receptor 1 in both proximal and distal regions.
Conclusion:SCI induces spatiotemporal remodeling of excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways, contributing to colonic dysmotility and revealing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.
