Hutchinson Karen J, Gómez-Pinilla Fernando, Crowe Maria J, Ying Zhe, Basso D Michele
Division of Physical Therapy, The Ohio State University, 516 Atwell Hall, 1583 Perry Street, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.
Brain. 2004 Jun;127(Pt 6):1403-14. doi: 10.1093/brain/awh160. Epub 2004 Apr 6.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) induces incapacitating neuropathic pain in the form of allodynia-a painful response to normally non-noxious stimuli. Unfortunately, the underlying mechanisms of these sensory changes are not well understood, and effective treatments for allodynia have proven elusive. We examined whether physical exercise can improve sensory function after experimental SCI by promoting neurotrophin expression in the spinal cord and periphery, which modulates synaptic transmission and function. Female rats with moderate spinal cord contusion participated in treadmill training, swim training, stand training or were untrained. Exercise training began 4 days post surgery, lasted 20-25 min per day, 5 days a week for 7 weeks. Allodynia, as measured using von Frey hairs of different bending forces to the plantar hind paw, developed in the untrained group 3 weeks after SCI. Treadmill training ameliorated allodynia and restored normal sensation by 5 weeks. Swim training had a transient beneficial effect, but allodynia returned by 7 weeks. Stand training had no effect. Resolution of allodynia after treadmill training was associated with normal mRNA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in both the lumbar spinal cord and soleus muscle. No other exercise paradigm restored BDNF centrally and peripherally. Greater recovery from allodynia correlated significantly with the degree of normalization of central and peripheral BDNF levels. These findings suggest that rhythmic, weight-bearing exercise may be an effective intervention to counter SCI-induced allodynia.
脊髓损伤（SCI）会引发以异常性疼痛形式出现的致残性神经病理性疼痛，即对通常无害刺激产生疼痛反应。不幸的是，这些感觉变化的潜在机制尚未完全明确，而且已证实难以找到针对异常性疼痛的有效治疗方法。我们研究了体育锻炼是否能通过促进脊髓和外周神经营养因子的表达来改善实验性脊髓损伤后的感觉功能，而神经营养因子可调节突触传递和功能。患有中度脊髓挫伤的雌性大鼠分别参与跑步机训练、游泳训练、站立训练或不进行训练。运动训练在手术后4天开始，每天持续20 - 25分钟，每周5天，共进行7周。使用不同弯曲力的von Frey毛发刺激后足跖部来测量异常性疼痛，未训练组在脊髓损伤后3周出现异常性疼痛。跑步机训练可改善异常性疼痛，并在5周后恢复正常感觉。游泳训练有短暂的有益效果，但异常性疼痛在7周后又复发。站立训练没有效果。跑步机训练后异常性疼痛的缓解与腰段脊髓和比目鱼肌中脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）的正常mRNA水平相关。其他运动模式均未在中枢和外周恢复BDNF水平。从异常性疼痛中恢复得更好与中枢和外周BDNF水平的正常化程度显著相关。这些发现表明，有节奏的负重运动可能是对抗脊髓损伤所致异常性疼痛的有效干预措施。
