LOCAL APPLICATION OF COLLAGEN CONTAINING BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR DECREASES THE LOSS OF FUNCTION AFTER SPINAL-CORD INJURY IN THE ADULT-RAT

We studied the effect of local application of brain-derived neurotroph ic factor (BDNF) on functional recovery after dorsal spinal cord trans ection in the adult rat. BDNF was applied at the site of the lesion in rat tail collagen type I. Locomotion was measured for 4 weeks using t he BBB locomotor rating scale. One day after injury and application of BDNF the performance of treated rats was significantly increased as c ompared to controls (BBB-score 11.5 +/- 1.3 (mean +/- SEM) and 7.5 +/- 1.3, respectively). This difference remained significant during the f irst week. Histological examination of the spared spinal cord tissue a t the lesion centre 4 weeks after lesioning showed no significant diff erence between control and BDNF-treated animals. The results indicate that local application of BDNF results in a decreased loss of function in the partially transected rat spinal cord starting one day after in jury. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.