Brain and Spinal Cord Interaction: Protective Effects of Exercise Prior to Spinal Cord Injury
Figure 3
Effects of SCI and exercise on BDNF levels in the lumbar region of the spinal cord.
(A) Exercise elevated levels of BDNF in intact animals sacrificed on the last day of exercise (Exc/Int(0)) or two days after ceasing exercise (Exc/Int(2)). SCI reduced levels of BDNF while exercise counteracted these effects (Exc/SCI). Representative western blot bands displaying BDNF are shown for each animal group. **P<0.01. (B)Microphotographs of representative immunohistochemical sections showing localization of BDNF in the hippocampus. SCI reduced BDNF immunolabeling (Sed/SCI) mainly affecting motoneurons (white arrows), but exercise prior to the SCI prevented these effects (black arrows; Exc/SCI).