Targeting Neuromuscular Plasticity in Injury and Motoneuron Disease

Dear Colleagues,

Plastic changes, such as synaptic plasticity, synaptogenesis, fiber sprouting, dendritic remodeling and metabolic changes, are typical events associated with activity-dependent modification of neural circuits, including those responsible for compensatory changes occurring after various injury events, including stroke or mechanical damage to the central nervous system. An increasing body of evidence suggests that neuroplasticity could also be responsible for compensatory attempts during the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, including motoneuron diseases. As a result, symptom onset usually occurs long after the initiation of neuronal degeneration.

Although these compensatory plastic changes are unable to halt disease progression or repair damaged tissues, they represent an important mechanism for further study, as well as a promising target of therapy approaches.

Focusing exclusively on basic research, this Special Issue invites contributions that utilise experimental models to explore the role of plasticity in spinal cord injury or motoneuron diseases. We are particularly interested in studies that elucidate the fundamental biological processes of pathogenesis and repair. Research articles and reviews with a strong emphasis on mechanistic discoveries are welcome.

Dr. Rosario Gulino
Guest Editor

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