Length profiles of RFs.

Percent activity evoked at three locations along the distal-proximal axis of the paw normalized to the activity recorded at the RF center. Data for RFs located on the heel are shown in a) and c), data for RFs with centers on the toe are depicted in b) and d). Top: recordings from the right, intact hemisphere, bottom: recordings from the left hemisphere. Stimulation locations on the paw are shown in the figurines in e). The distance from the RF centre at which 50% of neuronal activity (dashed line) was reached is indicated by arrows. Error bars represent s.e.m. For stimulation of the left paw in all groups comparable length profiles were obtained. In contrast, following stimulation of the right paw, significant differences (asterisks indicate significant differences p<0.05) were found for the length profiles obtained for control vs. lesioned animals, and for lesioned vs. treated animals, but not between control and treated rats. PSTHs recorded from neurons in the left hemisphere, whose RFswere located on the toes in control (f), lesioned (g) and transplanted rats (h) following tactile stimulation at the toe, pad, and heel. Whereas the activity evoked by stimulation on the pad and heel is low in controls (f), we found substantially enhanced activity after pad and heel stimulation in lesioned rats (g). In hUCB treated animals the activity pattern was comparable to control animals lacking the activation observed after pad and heel stimulation found in lesioned rats (h). Number of rats used: control group n =  7, lesion group n =  10, hUCB group n =  5. A total of 153 length profiles were recorded (left hemisphere: control 23: lesioned 24, treated 30; right hemisphere: control 24, lesioned 24, treated 28.