title: Expression of some neurotrophins in the spinal motoneurons after cord hemisection in adult rats.
abstract: There are numerous studies reporting on the crucial roles of neurotrophins (NTFs) in neuronal survival and sprouting after spinal cord injury (SCI). But studies on endogenous changes of neurotrophins after SCI are few. In this study we explored by means of immunohistochemistry the localization of NGF, BDNF and NT-3 in the normal adult spinal cord (SC) and the changes in the expression of these chemicals in the ventral horn after right cord hemisection at T9-10. The results showed an obvious increase in the numbers of NGF, BDNF and NT-3-immunoreactive neurons in the ventral horn and also an increase in their intracellular optical density (O.D.) at 3, 7 and 21 days after cord hemisection, when compared with sham-operated rats. The expression of NGF peaked at 7 days postoperation (dpo), while BDNF and NT-3 expressions peaked at 3 dpo. Evaluation of hindlimb functions by Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scoring showed that the hindlimb support and stepping function improved very quickly at 7 dpo. This study indicated that NGF, BDNF and NT-3 could play important but different roles in the mechanisms of spinal neuroplasticity at different times after SCI.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience, Kunming Medical College, 650031 Kunming, China.
authors.forename: Dan Xia
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Xiao Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong Tian
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao Li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Han
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xu Yang
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ting-Hua
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron / Q000379:methods; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors