Effect of combined treatment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor with chondroitinase ABC on nerve transduction pathway in rats after spinal cord injury

Objective To investigate the effect of combined treatment of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) with chondroitinase ABC (chABC) on repair of spinal cord injury in rats via nerve transduction pathway. Methods One hundred and fifty female SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operated group, normal saline (NS) treatment group, BDNF treatment group, chABC treatment group, and BDNF and chABC treatment group (n=30). The spinal cord injury models of rats in the later 4 groups were established successfully, and 10 μL NS, 20 μL BDNF, 6 μL chABC and 6 μL chABC+20 μL BDNF were given to the injury tissues 3 d after injury for a consecutive 60 d. Basso-Beattle-Bresnahan (BBB) scale was performed, and matosensory evoked potential (SEP) and motor evoked potential (MEP) were monitored; the reparation of nerve transduction pathway was observed one, 7, 14, 28 and 60 d after spinal cord injury. Results The BBB scale scores increased accordingly in the NS treatment group, BDNF treatment group, chABC treatment group, and BDNF and chABC treatment group 28 and 60 d after injury, with significant differences between each two groups (P<0.05). The latency of SEP N1 wave in the BDNF and chABC treatment group ([27.16±1.09] s) was significantly lower than that in the NS treatment group ([31.256±1.54] s) 14 d after injury (P<0.05). The latency of SEP N1 wave decreased accordingly in the NS treatment group, BDNF treatment group, chABC treatment group, and BDNF and chABC treatment group 28 and 60 d after injury, with significant differences between each two groups (P<0.05). The latency of MEP N1 wave decreased accordingly in the NS treatment group, BDNF treatment group, chABC treatment group, and BDNF and chABC treatment group 14, 28 and 60 d after injury, with significant differences between each two groups (P< 0.05). Conclusion Combined treatment of BDNF with chABC has neurotropic and neuroprotective effects on spinal cord injury, which could help the recovery of nerve transduction pathway in rats. Key words: Spinal cord injury; Brain-derived neurotrophic factor; Chondroitinase ABC; Evoked potential