Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 10 September 1982:
Vol. 217. no. 4564, pp. 1042 - 1044
DOI: 10.1126/science.6126002
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Science, Vol 217, Issue 4564, 1042-1044
Copyright © 1982 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Functional restoration of the traumatically injured spinal cord in cats by clonidine

NE Naftchi

The long-term, chronic, paralysis resulting from spinal cord injury in the cat has been reversed by the use of an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist, clonidine. Administration of this drug resulted in "normalization" of sensory-motor and autonomic dysfunctions. Preliminary studies of the clonidine in humans with traumatically injured spinal cord indicate that autonomic dysreflexia can be controlled and spasticity minimized. The data suggest that biochemical and pharmacologic manipulation of receptors may ameliorate paralysis following traumatic injury to the spinal cord as well as to the brain and brainstem.




To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)