Neuroplastic and Neuroinflammatory Alterations in the Hippocampus after Spinal Cord Injury

Objective: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating condition that not only affects motor and sensory functions, but also causes widespread neuroplastic and neuroinflammatory changes in the hippocampus, a brain region critical for learning and memory. Methods: This study examined region-specific changes in hippocampal subregions (CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus) in a rat model of SCI, evaluating neurogenesis, microglial and astroglial cell activation, and behavioral outcomes. Results and Discussion: The study revealed distinct patterns of neuroplastic and neuroinflammatory changes in hippocampal subregions, with some areas showing increased susceptibility to injury-induced changes. Behavioral analyses showed a significant correlation between these hippocampal changes and impairments in memory and learning ability, highlighting the functional consequences of SCI on cognitive processes. Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of understanding the relationship between neuroplasticity and neuroinflammation in the hippocampus after SCI, which may facilitate the development of targeted therapeutic strategies to mitigate cognitive deficits.