Application of non-human primates’ behavioral research in the study of spinal cord injury

Abstract

<p indent="0mm">With the rapid development of therapeutic research on spinal cord injury (SCI), more and more basic research results are beginning to be translated to the clinic. Non-human primates have similar gene sequences and neuroanatomical structures to humans and are therefore widely used in the preclinical translational phase of SCI. Behavioral assessment is one of the most important tools used in SCI research and has been applied in almost all related studies, providing an important reference for evaluating the effectiveness of therapies. The rapid advances in the study of behaviors in non-human primates have enabled the evolution of behavioral assessments from single, crude tests to sophisticated and refined observations. In this context, a growing number of relevant experiments have analyzed the changes in the extent of SCI and the efficacy of related interventions through behavioral assessments in non-human primates. Based on the unique spinal descending control pathways and motor abilities of non-human primates, this paper reviews the use of different behavioral assessments in SCI, analyzes the deficiencies of existing tests, and points out some future directions.