Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41285866›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Functional synaptic connectivity of engrafted spinal cord neurons with hindlimb motor circuitry in the injured spinal cord.

Ashley Tucker, Angelina Baltazar, Jaclyn T Eisdorfer, Joshua K Thackray, Katie Vo, Hannah Thomas, Avnika Tandon, Joshua Moses, Brendan Singletary, Tucker Gillespie and 15 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
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  5. Article
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

25 authors.

Ashley TuckerDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Angelina Baltazar *Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Jaclyn T Eisdorfer *Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Joshua K Thackray *Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2828-452X
Katie Vo *Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0000-8855-0549
Hannah ThomasDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Avnika TandonDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Joshua MosesDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Brendan SingletaryDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-6154-0544
Tucker GillespieDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Ashley SmithDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Anna PaukenDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Sneha NadellaDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Michael PitonakDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Sunjay LetchumanDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5535-7910
Julius JangDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Michael TottyTexas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9292-8556
Frank L JalufkaDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Miriam AcevesDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1778-0213
Andrew F AdlerCell Therapy, R&ED, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8053-3971
Stephen MarenDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9342-7411
Heath BlackmonDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
Dylan A McCreedyDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2413-0793
Victoria AbrairaDepartment of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9936-9921
Jennifer N DulinDepartment of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA. jdulin@bio.tamu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5767-4290

Funding

ResourceP40OD010996 · OD · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI STRICK, PETER · 2012 to 2024
$11.0M
Supplement: L-selectin shedding as a novel therapeutic strategy to mitigate acute secondary damage after spinal cord injuryR01NS122961 · NINDS · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY · PI MCCREEDY, DYLAN A. · 2021 to 2025
$2.0M
Dissecting Connectivity and Function of Transplanted Interneurons in the Injured Spinal CordR01NS116404 · NINDS · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY · PI DULIN, JENNIFER N · 2021 to 2025
$1.8M
Integrating theory, genomics, and comparative approaches to break barriers to the understanding of genome structure and sex chromosome evolution.R35GM138098 · NIGMS · TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY · PI BLACKMON, HEATH · 2020 to 2024
$1.8M
A new mechanistic and technological framework for uncovering the spinal cord neural systems important for functional recovery after injuryK01NS116224 · NINDS · RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIV OF N.J. · PI ABRAIRA, VICTORIA EUGENIA GUADALUPE · 2020 to 2024
$1.2M
NIGMS NIH HHS R35 GM138098NIH HHS P40 OD010996NINDS NIH HHS K01 NS116224NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS116404NINDS NIH HHS R01 NS122961Paralyzed Veterans of America Research Foundation (PVA Research Foundation) PVA17_R_0010U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) R01NS116404
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in significant neurological deficits, and curative therapies are lacking. Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation shows promise, as graft-derived neurons (GDNs) can integrate into host spinal cord and support axon regeneration. Here, we examined the synaptic integration of GDNs into hindlimb motor circuits in a mouse thoracic contusion SCI model. Transsynaptic tracing revealed that GDNs form synaptic connections with host motor circuits. Axon mapping showed distinct termination patterns of cholinergic and V2a interneurons within host spinal cord. Chemogenetic activation of GDNs induced muscle activity in a subset of transplanted animals, but NPC transplantation alone did not improve locomotor recovery. These findings indicate that GDNs can integrate into and modulate activity of host circuits, yet limited synaptic connectivity constrains functional recovery. Future studies should enhance graft-host connectivity and refine transplantation strategies to maximize therapeutic benefit for SCI.

Indexed as

HindlimbNeural Stem CellsNeuronsSpinal CordSpinal Cord InjuriesSynapsesAnimalsAxonsDisease Models, AnimalFemaleInterneuronsMiceMice, Inbred C57BLRecovery of Function

Identifiers

PMID41285866
PMCPMC12644778

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.