MicroRNA expression profiling in a mouse spinal cord injury model [P15 and P90, 12h and 3d]

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition resulting in permanent and irreversible deficits. Despite regeneration attempts, the neurons fail due to several dysfunctions. A number of studies have already revealed that, following SCI, microRNAs show two opposite kinds of alterations, one detrimental and one protective. However, there is still little evidence of specific microRNAs involved in axon regrowth. The aim of this project is the characterization of microRNA expression changes in sensorimotor cortex and corticospinal motor neurons, whose axons are severed by SCI. miRNA profiling in SCI mouse model (P15 and P90) at different time points (12h and 3 days). Complete transection of the spinal cord was induced at the C5-C6 level in postnatal day 15 C57BL/6J male mice at 12h and 3 days after injury (3 WT vs. 3 SCI) and in adult mice at 12h and 3 days post injury (3 WT vs. 3 SCI per each group). The sensorimotor cortex was dissected, collected for RNA extraction and the HD sRNA library was sequenced.