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

Figure 6

BDNF and TrkB expression in the dorsal spinal cord after SCI: Western blot was used to assess BDNF, TrkB₉₅ and TrkB₁₄₅ expression at 7 and 28 days after SCI in adult rats. Noxious tailshock was given 24 hours after SCI (SCI+SHK) to some animals. At 7 days after SCI, there was a significant increase in BDNF levels in the dorsal spinal cord of SCI animals that did not receive tailshock (SCI+UNSHK) and in SCI+SHK animals compared to sham controls. Although SCI+SHK animals had elevated levels of BDNF, shock treatment significantly decreased BDNF levels compared to SCI+UNSHK ( indicates significance relative to sham and indicates significance relative to SCI+UNSHK). Both SCI groups had elevated levels of TrkB₉₅ in the dorsal spinal cord compared to sham control, whereas TrkB₁₄₅ was only significantly increased in the SCI+UNSHK group of animals. At 28 days after injury, there were no differences in BDNF, TrkB₉₅, and TrkB₁₄₅ expression in the dorsal spinal cord among the three experimental groups.