Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Effects of Tamoxifen in skeletal muscle recovery after spinal cord injury and mechanisms activated by the drug

Award Number: SC1GM144032
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Effects of Tamoxifen in skeletal muscle recovery after spinal cord injury and mechanisms activated by the drug - Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a condition without a cure, characterized by the loss of somatosensory perception and voluntary movement eventually resulting in muscle atrophy. Most research has focused on nerve regeneration not muscle recovery, although nerve regeneration is useless if muscle deterioration is beyond repair. Exercise soon after the injury is a common therapy to reduce muscle atrophy in animal models, but in humans it is not possible in the acute phase after trauma. An effective therapy must reduce muscle degeneration and improve muscle contractile properties in the acute phase after SCI until exercise is possible. Our laboratory is pioneering the use of tamoxifen (TAM), an FDA-approved cancer drug, to reduce muscle degeneration after trauma. TAM, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, could reverse the changes in muscle type composition and reduce the SCI-induced effect on muscle fiber contractile properties because estradiol, working through estrogen receptors (ER), has these effects. In addition, TAM has the potential benefit that it could stimulate Satellite cell activation/proliferation. The interaction of TAM with different ERs suggests that there is a possible sex difference in the response to this drug. Since sexual differences have been observed in muscle fibers and contractile properties, new studies are necessary to define the effect of TAM in female and male muscle tissue after SCI. Our preliminary data demonstrate that TAM improves locomotor recovery and prevents myosin loss in muscle tissue. Therefore, our central hypothesis is that TAM, administered early after SCI, will partially preserve the contractile properties of muscle fibers, reducing degeneration, and ultimately increase myofiber proliferation/regeneration. In addition, we want to explore a possible sex difference in the response to this drug and the metabolic profile activated or de-activated in muscle cells after SCI. The present project has the following aims: AIM 1. To determine the effect of TAM to prevent a reduction in the contractile properties of skeletal muscle fibers after SCI in male and female rats, and establish the mechanisms by which this drug prevents muscle degeneration. We will implant TAM pellets in male and female rats after a moderate contusion SCI. Contractile properties of Soleus and Tibialis anterior muscle fibers will be evaluated and the expression profile of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms will be studied at 7, 14, and 28 days post-injury (DPI). AIM 2. To evaluate the effect of TAM on myogenic factors and proliferative/regenerative proteins from skeletal muscle after SCI and establish if the effects in these cellular events are sex-specific. Male and female rats will be treated with TAM after SCI. The effect of this drug on Soleus and Tibialis expression of myogenic factors (Pax7, MyoD and myogenin), used as markers of Satellite cell activation or proliferation and proteins associated to new muscle fiber formation (desmin and embryonic MHC) will be tested at 7, 14, and 28 DPI. These experiments and their results may lead to novel therapeutic strategies that enhance muscle and locomotor recovery after SCI.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2025	UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MEDICAL SCIENCES CAMPUS	B622 MAIN BUILDING FLR 6	SAN JUAN	PR	00935	SAN JUAN	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	1/14/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $375,000 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MEDICAL SCIENCES CAMPUS	B622 MAIN BUILDING FLR 6	SAN JUAN	PR	00935	SAN JUAN	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	5/8/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$375,000
														Subtotal = $375,000

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $375,000 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MEDICAL SCIENCES CAMPUS	B622 MAIN BUILDING FLR 6	SAN JUAN	PR	00935	SAN JUAN	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	3/21/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$337,500
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MEDICAL SCIENCES CAMPUS	B622 MAIN BUILDING FLR 6	SAN JUAN	PR	00935	SAN JUAN	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	001	3	6/18/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$37,500
														Subtotal = $375,000

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $375,000 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MEDICAL SCIENCES CAMPUS	B622 MAIN BUILDING FLR 6	SAN JUAN	PR	00935	SAN JUAN	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	3/16/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$375,000
														Subtotal = $375,000

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $369,500 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MEDICAL SCIENCES CAMPUS	MAIN BLDG FLR 6 B-622	SAN JUAN	PR	00935	SAN JUAN	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	4/1/2022	NEW	$369,500
														Subtotal = $369,500

Grand Total All Awards = $1,494,500

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Effects of Tamoxifen in skeletal muscle recovery after spinal cord injury and mechanisms activated by the drug

Award Number: SC1GM144032

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 04/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2027

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer