Abstract
The possibility that a combination of neurotrophins induces long-lasting neuroprotection of the cord following spinal cord injury (SCI) was examined in a rat model. The SCI was performed by making a unilateral incision into the right dorsal horn of the T10-11 segments and the animals were allowed to survive 5 h after trauma. Different combination of neurotrophins, i.e., BDNF in combination with GDNF, NT-3, or NGF was applied topically over the traumatized spinal cord and motor dysfunction, blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) breakdown, edema formation, and cell injury were examined. Topical application of BDNF in combination with GDNF and NGF 30 min (but not 60 or 90 min) at high concentrations (0.5 µg each) after SCI significantly improved motor function and reduced BSCB breakdown, edema formation, and cell injury at 5 h. However, concurrent application of BDNF, IGF-1, and GDNF (but not with NT-3 or NGF) even 60 or 90 min after trauma induced a significant reduction in motor dysfunction and spinal cord pathology. These observations suggest that a combination of neurotrophins may have added therapeutic value in the treatment of SCI, not reorted earlier.
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Acknowledgements
This investigation was supported by grants from Swedish Medical Research Council (2710 HSS), Stockholm, Sweden; Göran Gustafsson Foundation, Stockholm, Sweden; National Brain Research Centre, Sweden; Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany; Astra-Zeneca, Mölndal, Sweden; Acure Pharma, Sweden; IPSEN-Medical, Paris, France; The University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India; The Indian Medical Research Council, New Delhi, India; Ministry of Science & Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi. The Secretarial help of Aruna Sharma and the Graphic assistance of Suraj Sharma are highly appreciated with thanks. The author (HSS) has no conflict of interest with any Granting authorities mentioned above.
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Sharma, H.S. (2010). Selected Combination of Neurotrophins Potentiate Neuroprotection and Functional Recovery Following Spinal Cord Injury in the Rat. In: Czernicki, Z., Baethmann, A., Ito, U., Katayama, Y., Kuroiwa, T., Mendelow, D. (eds) Brain Edema XIV. Acta Neurochirurgica Supplementum, vol 106. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-98811-4_55
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