Role of Neurotrophin 3 in spinal neuroplasticity in rats subjected to cord transection.
That neuroplasticity occurs in mammalian spinal cord is well known, though the underlying mechanism still awaits elucidation. This study evaluated the role of endogenous Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the spinal neuroplasticity. Following cord transection at the junction between T9 and T10, the hindlimb locomotor functions of rats showed gradual but significant improvement from 7 to 28 days post-operation. Corresponding to this was a significant increase in the level of NT-3 in the cord segments caudal to injury site. Significantly, after NT-3-antibody administration, the spinal transected rats displayed poor hindlimb locomotor functions and a decrease in the number of neurons in spinal laminae VIII-IX. Whether NT-3-antibody was administered, corticospinal tract regeneration and somatosensory evoked potentials could not be detected. Our findings suggested that endogenous NT-3 could play an important role in spinal plasticity in adult spinal cords subjected to transection, possibly through a regulation of neuronal activity in the local circuitry.
Yang
Hui-Juan
HJ
Institute of Neurological Disease, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Yang
Xiao-Yan
XY
Ba
Ying-Chun
YC
Pang
Jiang-Xia
JX
Meng
Bu-Liang
BL
Lin
Na
N
Li
Li-Yan
LY
Dong
Xin-Yi
XY
Zhao
Yu
Y
Tian
Chang-Fu
CF
Wang
Ting-Hua
TH
D000818:Animals; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D020933:Neurotrophin 3