Release of immunoreactive brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the spinal cord of the rat following sciatic nerve transection

Using the antibody microprobe method, the sites of spinal release of immunoreactive brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was studied in normal rats, and rats with prior sciatic nerve transection. In normal rats, a significant basal release of immunoreactive BDNF was found in the superficial dorsal horn. Following sciatic nerve transection (performed 14 days previously), release of BDNF was found throughout the whole of the dorsal horn, extending into deeper laminae. Electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral sciatic nerve at a strength adequate to excite either A fibres (20 Hz at 2x threshold voltage) or A and C fibres (2 Hz at 20x threshold voltage) did not alter the basal release of immunoreactive BDNF in normal or in nerve-injured rats. The results suggest that BDNF is released from the central terminals of primary afferent fibres, but such release is not solely dependent upon action potential invasion of these terminals. The increased extent of release following nerve transection is consistent with the hypothesis that BDNF plays a role in the central response to peripheral nerve injury.     

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor contributes to spinal long-term potentiation and mechanical hypersensitivity by activation of spinal microglia in rat

It has been shown that following peripheral nerve injury brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) released by activated microglia contributes to neuropathic pain, but whether BDNF affects the function of microglia is still unknown. In the present work we found that spinal application of BDNF, which induced long-term potentiation (LTP) of C-fiber evoked field potentials, activated spinal microglia in naïve animals, while pretreatment with microglia inhibitor minocycline blocked BDNF-induced LTP. In addition, following LTP induction by BDNF, both phosphorylated Src-family kinases (p-SFKs) and phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38 MAPK) were up-regulated only in spinal microglia but not in neurons and astrocytes, whilst spinal application of SFKs inhibitor (PP2 or SU6656) or p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) blocked BDNF-induced LTP and suppressed microglial activation. As spinal LTP at C-fiber synapses is considered to underlie neuropathic pain, we subsequently examined whether BDNF may contribute to mechanical hypersensitivity by activation of spinal microglia using spared nerve injury (SNI) model. Following SNI BDNF and TrkB receptor were up-regulated mainly in dorsal horn neurons and in activated microglia, and p-SFKs and p-p38 MAPK were increased exclusively in microglia. Intrathecal injection of BDNF scavenger TrkB-Fc starting before SNI, which prevented the behavioral sign of neuropathic pain, suppressed both microglial activation and the up-regulation of p-SFKs and p-p38 MAPK produced by SNI. Thus, the increased BDNF/TrkB signaling in spinal dorsal horn may contribute to neuropathic pain by activation of microglia following peripheral nerve injury and inhibition of SFKs or p38 MAPK may selectively inhibit microglia in spinal dorsal horn.     

Increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactivity in rat dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord following peripheral inflammation

Our recent study showed that peripheral inflammation induced an increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA which was mediated by nerve growth factor (NGF) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). In the present study, we evaluated the change of BDNF immunoreactivity in the DRG and spinal cord following peripheral inflammation by means of immunohistochemistry. Significant increases in the percentage of BDNF-immunoreactive (IR) neuron profiles in the L5 DRG and marked elevation in the expression of BDNF-IR terminals in the spinal dorsal horn were observed following peripheral tissue inflammation produced by an intraplantar injection of Freund's adjuvant into the rat paws. These findings suggest that peripheral tissue inflammation induces an increased BDNF synthesis in the DRG and an elevated anterograde transport of BDNF to the spinal dorsal horn. The functional role of this increased BDNF was discussed briefly.     

驽药针刺对大鼠脊髓损伤后运动功能及BDNF表达的影响

目的研究驽药针刺在大鼠脊髓损伤后运动功能变化以及BDNF表达的变化。方法采用脊髓半横断损伤模型。100只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、假手术组、脊髓损伤组、单纯针刺组、驽药针刺组,每组分为3天、7天、14天、21天共4个亚组,每组5只。BBB法评定大鼠后肢运动功能变化,免疫组化法检测大鼠脊髓中BDNF的表达变化。结果 BBB评分显示驽药针刺组的各时间点评分均高于脊髓损伤组(P0.05),驽药针刺组7、14、21d的BDNF表达均高于脊髓损伤组(P0.05),且与BBB评分呈正相关(r=0.717,P0.05)。结论驽药针刺可明显改善脊髓损伤大鼠的运动功能,并可明显促进大鼠脊髓损伤后BDNF的表达。     

侧脑室内注入脑源性神经营养因子对AD小鼠酪氨酸激酶B及内源性BDNF表达的影响

目的 探讨侧脑室内注入脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)对APP/PS1双转基因阿尔茨海默病(AD)小鼠酪氨酸激酶B (TrkB)及内源性BDNF表达的影响. 方法 10只10月龄APP/PS1雄性小鼠按随机数字表法分为2组,实验组5只,双侧侧脑室内注入BDNF;磷酸盐缓冲液(PBS)组5只,双侧侧脑室内注入PBS,为阳性对照组;干预时间均为6周.同时选择5只同窝生10月龄野生型小鼠,不予任何处理,为阴性对照组.采用荧光免疫组化法观察小鼠皮层区β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)斑块形态学改变,硫磺素S法检测致密斑的数量,同时检测小鼠皮层区TrkB、BDNF蛋白表达的情况. 结果 (1)治疗前、后BDNF组Aβ斑块总数分别为(101.58±7.86)个、(102.83±8.22)个,与PBS组(97.23±1 1.62)个、(103.6±6.46)个比较差异均无统计学意义(t=0.695、-0.171,P=-0.509、0.869);治疗6周后BDNF组Aβ斑块直径缩小至(34.65±9.33)μm,TS+斑块数量减少至(51.70±4.18)个,与PBS组(46.17±10.16)μm、(58.85±7.55)个比较,差异均具有统计学意义(t=-2.401、-2.536,P=0.047、0.039);(2)治疗后BDNF组TrkB、BDNF蛋白表达明显增强. 结论 侧脑室内注入BDNF减少了Aβ致密斑的形成,使Aβ蛋白沉积导致的神经毒性作用减弱,从而促进皮层区TrkB表达增强,导致内源性BDNF表达增强,可在一定程度上延缓AD小鼠的病程.     

精神分裂症患者脑源性神经营养因子水平及其与临床症状的关系

目的探讨脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在精神分裂症病理生理机制中的可能作用。方法采用横断面病例一对照研究设计。患者组为48例精神分裂症患者，其中发病后从未治疗组31例，停止治疗组17例。正常对照组（以下简称对照组）为与患者组性别、年龄匹配的41名健康人。对患者组用阳性和阴性症状量表（PANSS）评定病情严重程度。血浆BDNF浓度用酶联免疫吸附试验测定。用多变量方差分析比较组间差异。结果从未治疗组[（4．5±2．2）μg/L]和停药组患者[（3．9±1．4）μg/L]血浆BDNF浓度均低于对照组[（6．5±2．2）μg/L]（F检验，P〈0．01）；而从未治疗组与停止治疗组的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。患者组的血浆BDNF浓度与PANSS阴性症状因子分（r=-0．509；P〈0．01）及总病期呈负相关（r=-0．426；P〈0．01），与发病年龄、PANSS阳性因子分、总分的相关性均无统计学差异。结论精神分裂症患者BDNF浓度低于正常；BDNF可能是参与精神分裂症病理生理机制的一种重要物质。     

慢性癫痫大鼠脑组织中脑源性神经生长因子及其受体的研究

应用免疫组织化学的方法观察了戊四氮诱导的慢性癫痫大鼠脑组织中脑源性神经生长因子（BDNF）及其受体TrkB免疫反映阳性神经元的变化。结果发现慢性癫痫大鼠海马回、齿状回BDNF及TrkB免疫反应阳性神经元数目明显增多。在本次抽搐后3h、72h、7d、10dBDNF阳性神经元均增高,而TrkB阳性神经元仅在末次抽搐后3h升高。24h后恢复到正常水平,结果表明,BDNF及TrkB与癫痫发病有关。     

Serum concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with gender identity disorder

Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is characterized by a strong and persistent cross-gender identification that affects different aspects of behavior. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a critical role in neurodevelopment and neuroplasticity. Altered BDNF-signaling is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disordersand is related to traumatic life events. To examine serum BDNF levels, we compared one group of DSM-IV GID patients (n = 45) and one healthy control group (n = 66). Serum BDNF levels were significantly decreased in GID patients (p = 0.013). This data support the hypothesis that the reduction found in serum BDNF levels in GID patients may be related to the psychological abuse that transsexuals are exposed during their life.