Spatiotemporal Remodeling of Enteric Neural Pathways Underlies Colonic Dysmotility Following Spinal Cord Injury in Rats

Background/Aims: : Spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently impairs defecation, severely affecting the quality of life. This study examines compensatory neural remodeling after SCI, focusing on basal colonic contractility, neural responses to electrical field stimulation, and alterations in excitatory cholinergic and inhibitory nitrergic pathways. Methods: : Female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent either sham surgery or T10 spinal cord transection and were categorized into 3 groups: sham, 1-week post-SCI (acute), and 4-week post-SCI (chronic). Colonic contractility was assessed in an organ bath using electrical field stimulation in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Neural protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Results: receptor in the proximal colon, and reduced vasoactive intestinal peptide receptor 1 in both proximal and distal regions. Conclusion: : SCI induces spatiotemporal remodeling of excitatory and inhibitory neural pathways, contributing to colonic dysmotility and revealing potential targets for therapeutic intervention.