Effect of endogenous brain derived neurotrophic factor on GAP-43 expression in the anterior horn of the spinal cord in rats with sciatic nerve injury / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of endogenous brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on GAP-43 expression in the anterior horn of the spinal cord in rats following sciatic nerve injury.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>BDNF antibody was injected intraperitoneally in rats with crushing injury of the sciatic nerve, and the control rats received normal saline only after sciatic nerve injury. At 7 and 14 days after the injection, the expression of GAP-43 in the anterior horn of the corresponding segments of the spinal cord was detected by Western blot and RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of GAP-43 protein and mRNA in the anterior horn of the spinal cord were significantly down-regulated in rats with BDNF antibody injection as compared with those in the control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endogenous BDNF may regulate the expression of GAP-43 in the spinal cord anterior horn after sciatic nerve injury in rats.</p>