title: Differential electrophysiological effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor on dorsal horn neurons following chronic spinal cord hemisection injury in the rat.
abstract: To assess the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in nociceptive processing after chronic lateral spinal cord hemisection injury (SCI) at T13, we studied the effects of BDNF on evoked activity of dorsal horn wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons. Evoked responses of WDR cells (n=34 total) at L3-L5 were characterized electrophysiologically after spinal administration of vehicle, or BDNF (10 microg). In hemisected animals, application of BDNF to the surface of the cord resulted in reductions in evoked activity in 24 of 32 cells (75%), and enhancement of evoked activity in eight of 32 (25%) cells. Phosphate-buffered saline-receiving animals demonstrated evoked response rates of between 75 and 93 Hz, while BDNF(-) cells had evoked rates from between 20 and 41 Hz, and BDNF(+) activities were between 80 and 119 Hz, significant changes of 76 and 124%, respectively. Effects were bilateral and differences in sidedness were not observed. These results further implicate BDNF in nociceptive processing, but suggest a complex role after chronic SCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, and Marine Biomedical Institute, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-1043, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hains
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.forename: Claire E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Hulsebosch
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013133:Spinothalamic Tracts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor