Abstract #0805

Narayana P, Bockhorst K, Mogatadakala K, Grill R, Ramu J

We have investigated cortical activation, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), in spinal cord injured rodents treated with the neurotrophin, NT3. The NT3 treated animals have shown extensive activation in both cortical and subcortical structures in response to electrical stimulation of the forepaw. The extent of shift in the center of mass and volume of activation in each structure was calculated using automatic cluster analysis. These results indicate extensive cortical reorganization in NT3 treated spinal cord injury.