In

species used most extensively for experimental studies, corticospinal axons originate primarily from neurons in layer V in the sensorimotor cortex. It is important to note, however, that other cortical areas also contribute, including the dorsomedial frontal cortex. Most CST axons decussate in the pyramidal decussation and then descend through the spinal cord in three tracts: a dorsal tract in the ventral part of the dorsal column (the main tract in rodents), a dorsolateral tract (the main tract in primates), and a ventral tract that is sparse in most species and is not detected in some strains of mice (Figure 4). The dorsal and dorsolateral CST contain axons from the contralateral cortex whereas axons in the ventral CST are from the ipsilateral cortex. Our impression, based on AZD6738 mw assessment of labeling in hundreds of rats and mice, is that the BMS-387032 order parcellation of axons between the two minor tracts varies even across individuals within the same species. Regarding the use of rodent models for spinal cord injury studies in general and CST regeneration in particular, it is noteworthy that most CST axons in rodents are located in the spinal cord dorsal white matter;

this is a key distinction from humans, where the main CST descends in the lateral columns. CST axon collaterals leave the main tract and terminate mainly on the side contralateral to the cortex of origin. Some CST axons recross the midline at segmental levels to terminate ipsilaterally (Figure 4).

Recrossing axons are sparse in rats, somewhat more common in mice, and are prominent in primates. The extent of recrossing in humans is not known. Several publications have reported regeneration of CST axons after spinal cord injury in rodents, but many of these studies leave doubts. Unless the spinal cord is transected completely, lesions usually spare axons in one or the other of the component pathways, so that axons observed below the lesion site could be due to sprouting from spared axons. Complete transections can solve this problem, but are difficult to create and are extremely disabling to the animals. Many early claims of CST regeneration after complete transection have not stood the test of time and replication, based on later evidence that axons were actually spared. Most often, spared axons lie within the most ventral Sodium butyrate and lateral aspects of the lesion site. Also, complete transections create an environment that is an extraordinary barrier because the two stumps pull apart leaving a fluid filled space that can be many millimeters in length. Even when filled with a transplant or a growth-promoting substrate, a large lesion represents a very challenging barrier for regenerating axons. In our view, no study to date has convincingly demonstrated regeneration of CST axons across a complete spinal cord transection site, and this remains a key goal of spinal cord regeneration research.