| Keywords |
Treadmill training ; SCI ; BDNF ; Astrocyte ; Glial scar |
| Abstract |
Exercise improved nerve recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been known to modulate several neuronal functions including cell survival. In the injured spinal cord, proliferation of astrocytes might support axonal regrowth. To investigate morphological and biochemistrical change of injury site after spinal cord injury, all tissues were used for immunofluorescence staining and western blot. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats (230±10 g; 7 week in age) were assigned equally to three different groups; Intact (n=7), Sed (n=7), TMT (n=7). Western blot analyses showed that levels of BDNF were increased in rostral and caudal regions as well as injury site 2 and 3 weeks after spinal cord contusion, and further upregulated by TMT. TMT-mediated BDNF levels in each region after SCI was associated with proliferation of astrocytes at 2 weeks. Yet, levels of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG), a major constituent of glial scar, was decreased in the injury area undergoing regeneration responses. These findings provide evidence that TMT-upregulated BDNF may play a important regulator for spinal cord regeneration via reduction of glial scar formation. |