Study of Alterations in Neurotrophin Expression in Chronic Spinal Cord Compression

2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 15390443
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Cerebral neurosurgery
• Research Institution: Dokkyo University School of Medicine
• Principal Investigator: KIM Phyo Dokkyo Univ., School of Medicine Dept.of Nerrosurbery, Professor, 医学部, 教授 (90231290)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): OGINO Masahiro Dokkyo Univ., School of Medicine Dept.of Nerrosurbery, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (80224137) ; KAWAMOTO Toshiki Dokkyo Univ., School of Medicine Dept.of Nerrosurbery, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (50301461) ; ASAKUNO Keizou Dokkyo Univ., School of Medicine Dept.of Nerrosurbery, Assistant Professor, 医学部, 講師 (00316548)
• Project Period (FY): 2003 – 2004
• Keywords: Myelopathy / Chronic Spinal Cord Compression / Neurotrophic Factors / BDNF / NGF

Research Abstract

The regulation of neurotrophic factor expression in mild spinal cord compression has not been investigated in detail, especially in regards to their effects on motoneurons. Therefore, we investigated the levels of BDNF and NGF, in motoneurons of a rat spinal cord compression(SCC) model developed by us and control animals. The expression pattern of BDNF and NGF were examined in spinal segments C4,C5-6,C7 in SCC and control rats. BDNF expression in motoneurons increased at the compressed region in 25-week SCC rats. In contrast, βNGF expression in the motoneurons decreased gradually in all three segments. This decrease may be due to a decrease in the processing of proNGF, which promotes proNGF expression and decreases the levels of mature NGF. In 9-week SCC rats, intensely BDNF positive glial cells were observed in the anterior horn and white matter around the compressed region. These results suggest that the upregulation of BDNF contributes to regeneration in motoneurons and an improvement of motor paresis. In contrast, NGF may induce motoneuron apoptosis through increased proNGF levels, similar to changes observed in Alzheimer's disease.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Delayed Myeloopath Induced by Chronic Compression in the Rat Spinal Cord (2004)
  • Author(s): Phyo Kim, MD, Phd, DMSc, Toshihiko Haisa, MD, DMSc, et al.
  • Journal Title: Ann Neurol 55 Pages: 503-511
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
• [Journal Article] Delayed Myelopathy Induced by Chronic Compression in the Rat Spinal Cord (2004)
  • Author(s): Phyo Kim, MD, PhD, DMSc, Toshilhiko Haisa, MD, DMSc, Toshiki Kawamoto, MD, PhD, Takaaki Kirino, MD, DMSc, Susumu Wakai, MD, DMSC
  • Journal Title: Ann Neurol 55 Pages: 503-511
  • Description: 「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より