Credit: Cincinnati Children's
This microscopic image shows the development of abnormal nervous circuity in the spinal tissues of mouse models with high thoracic spinal injury. The aberrant circuitry causes responses that extend beyond thoracic spinal segments. In this image, fluoresced developing interneurons glow almost like clusters of stars in the night sky. As the circuitry expands, it activated by an interaction with the spleen. This helps trigger a dangerous anti-inflammatory and immune suppressive reflex. Researchers report their results April 18 in the journal Nature Neuroscience.