Brumley MR, Hentall ID, Pinzon A, Kadam BH, Blythe A, Sanchez FJ, Noga BR (2007) Serotonin concentrations in the lumbosacral spinal cord of the adult rat following microinjection or dorsal surface application. J. Neurophysiology; 98: 1440-1450. [Abstract]
Hentall ID, Pinzon A, Noga BR (2006) Spatial and temporal patterns of serotonin release in the rat’s lumbar spinal cord following electrical stimulation of the nucleus raphe magnus. Neurosci 142: 893-903.[Abstract]
Dai X, Noga BR, Douglas JR Jordan LM. (2005) Localization of spinal neurons activated during locomotion using the c-fos immunohistochemical method. J Neurophysiol 93: 3442-3452. [Abstract]
Noga BR, Pinzon A, Mesigil RP, Hentall ID. (2004) Steady State Levels of Monoamines in the Rat Lumbar Spinal Cord - Spatial Mapping and the Effect of Acute Spinal Cord Injury. J Neurophysiol. 2004 Mar 10 10.1152/jn.01035.2003 [Abstract]
Noga BR, Kriellaars DJ, Brownstone RM, Jordan LM (2003) Mechanism for activation of locomotor centers in the spinal cord by stimulation of the mesencephalic locomotor region. J Neurophysiol 90:1464-1478. [Abstract]
Hentall ID, Mesigil R, Pinzon A, Noga BR (2003) Temporal and spatial profiles of pontine-evoked monoamine release in the rat's spinal cord. J Neurophysiol 89: 2943-51. [Abstract]
Thomas CK, Noga BR (2003) Physiological methods to measure motor function in humans and animals with spinal cord injury. J Rehab Res Dev 40: 25-34.
Hentall ID, Noga BR, Sagen J (2001) Spinal allografts of adrenal medulla block nociceptive facilitation in the dorsal horn. J Neurophysiol 85: 1788-1792. [Abstract]
Pinzon A, Calancie B, Oudega M, Noga BR (2001) Conduction of impulses by axons regenerated in a Schwann cell graft in the transected adult rat thoracic spinal cord. J Neurosci Res 64: 533-541. [Abstract]
Huang A, Noga BR, Carr PA, Fedirchuk B, Jordan LM (2000) Spinal cholinergic neurons activated during locomotion: localization and electrophysiological characterization. J Neurophysiol 83: 3537-3547. [Abstract]
Impairment of locomotor function is a devastating consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). This occurs because the descending neuronal pathways that normally control spinal locomotor producing neurons are disrupted. Fortunately, spinal locomotor pattern generating neurons retain a functional complement of receptors on their cell membranes following this denervation. This leaves open the possibility that locomotor function can be improved, providing that the appropriate transmitter is present to activate these neurons. This forms the basis of a “transmitter replacement therapy” for the improvement of locomotor function following SCI. Our long-term goal is to develop new therapeutic strategies for enhancing locomotor function based on delivery of neurotransmitters, similarly acting drugs or transplantation of cells secreting these substances. The objectives of my research are: 1) to identify the key spinal neurons involved in the control of locomotion, 2) to determine the fundamental roles of the different descending pathways in activating or modulating their activity, and 3) to determine the neurotransmitters and the receptors involved in this control. This research provides new insight into the processes of locomotion and the dynamic interactive nature of descending systems controlling this behavior. In addition, it also elucidates the mechanisms by which different neurotransmitters facilitate or enable walking. The results of these studies will lead to a better understanding of the major pathways and the key cells involved in the initiation and control of walking.