Spinal Plasticity and Behavior: BDNF-Induced Neuromodulation in Uninjured and Injured Spinal Cord

Figure 2

BDNF facilitates synaptic responses. (a) (Top) bath-applied BDNF potentiates dorsal root-evoked synaptic responses in lamina II neurons. In the presence of BDNF, synaptic amplitude is increased by ~30% and remains facilitated during wash. The data represent the average change in synaptic amplitude for all neurons, obtained from animals postnatal days 1–14. The average synaptic amplitude before BDNF application was computed for each neuron and was then normalized to the mean baseline amplitude denoted as 100%. The mean percent change in synaptic amplitude was calculated as the difference between the mean peak amplitude during drug treatment or wash and the mean value of the synaptic responses before drug (control). (a) (Bottom) the average synaptic responses are shown for recordings obtained in P8 and P37 rats before and during BDNF. Note: BDNF-induced facilitation is observed at both ages. (b) Bath application of the NMDA receptor antagonist, D-APV for 10 min prior to and during BDNF application blocks BDNF-induced synaptic facilitation (). Data previously reported in Garraway et al. [89, 90].

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