Role of the Serotonergic System in Functional Recovery after Spinal Cord Injury

The serotonergic system plays an essential role in the modulationof the spinal network activity involved in the control of motor,sensory, and visceral functions. Spinal cord injury (SCI) can inducea state of overexcitation that contributes to pain, spasticity,and autonomic dysfunction. At the same time, serotonergic axonsare known to adapt to pathophysiological changes faster than theother axons and retain the ability to sprout and regenerate afterinjury. A number of experimental animal studies, as well as someclinical observations, suggest that the serotonergic system is akey endogenous resource for posttraumatic recovery after SCI. Specifictherapy may include the administration of serotonergic drugs andintraspinal transplantation of serotonergic neurons. This reviewaddresses the role of the serotonergic system in functional recoveryafter SCI and the prospects for the use of serotonergic drugs in neurorehabilitation.