Jung Sun-Young, Seo Tae-Beom, Kim Dae-Young
Department of Physical Therapy, Hosan University, Gyeongsan, Korea.
Division of Sports Science and Engineering, Korea Institute of Sports Science, Seoul, Korea.
J Exerc Rehabil. 2016 Aug 31;12(4):284-92. doi: 10.12965/jer.1632698.349. eCollection 2016 Aug.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts both axonal pathways and segmental spinal cord circuity, resulting in permanent neurological deficits. Physical exercise is known to increase the expression of neurotrophins for improving the injured spinal cord. In the present study, we investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on locomotor function in relation with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression after SCI. The rats were divided into five groups: control group, sham operation group, sham operation and exercise group, SCI group, and SCI and exercise group. The laminectomy was performed at the T9-T10 level. The exposed dorsal surface of the spinal cord received contusion injury (10 g × 25 mm) using the impactor. Treadmill exercise was performed 6 days per a week for 6 weeks. In order to evaluate the locomotor function of animals, Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor scale was conducted once a week for 6 weeks. We examined BDNF expression and axonal sprouting in the injury site of the spinal cord using Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining. SCI induced loss of locomotor function with decreased BDNF expression in the injury site. Treadmill exercise increased the score of BBB locomotor scale and reduced cavity formation in the injury site. BDNF expression and axonal sprouting within the trabecula were further facilitated by treadmill exercise in SCI-exposed rats. The present study provides the evidence that treadmill exercise may facilitate recovery of locomotor function through axonal regeneration via BDNF expression following SCI.
脊髓损伤（SCI）会破坏轴突通路和脊髓节段的回路，导致永久性神经功能缺损。已知体育锻炼可增加神经营养因子的表达，以改善受损脊髓。在本研究中，我们调查了跑步机运动对脊髓损伤后与脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）表达相关的运动功能的影响。将大鼠分为五组：对照组、假手术组、假手术加运动组、脊髓损伤组和脊髓损伤加运动组。在T9 - T10水平进行椎板切除术。使用撞击器对暴露的脊髓背表面进行挫伤损伤（10 g×25 mm）。每周进行6天跑步机运动，持续6周。为了评估动物的运动功能，每周进行一次Basso - Beattie - Bresnahan（BBB）运动评分，持续6周。我们使用蛋白质免疫印迹分析和免疫荧光染色检查脊髓损伤部位的BDNF表达和轴突发芽情况。脊髓损伤导致运动功能丧失，损伤部位的BDNF表达降低。跑步机运动增加了BBB运动评分，并减少了损伤部位的空洞形成。跑步机运动进一步促进了脊髓损伤大鼠小梁内的BDNF表达和轴突发芽。本研究提供了证据表明，跑步机运动可能通过脊髓损伤后BDNF表达介导的轴突再生促进运动功能的恢复。
