《Chinese Journal of Rehabilitation Theory and Practice》 ›› 2021, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (2): 131-136.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2021.02.002

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Body Weight-supported Treadmill Training on Neuropathic Pain and Expression of Glutamate Decarboxylase (GAD)-65/67 in Spinal Dorsal Horn of Rats with Spinal Cord Injury

Xiang-zhe LI1,Jie DING2,Qing-hua WANG3,Chuan-ming DONG4,Tong WANG5,Qin-feng WU1()   

  1. 1.the Affiliated Suzhou Science and Technology Town Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215153, China
    2.Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
    3.Experimental Animal Center of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
    4.Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
    5.Rehabilitation Medical Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
  • Received:2019-12-03 Revised:2020-12-28 Published:2021-02-25 Online:2021-02-26
  • Contact: Qin-feng WU E-mail:wuqinfeng0911@163.com
  • Supported by:
    Suzhou "Kejiaoxingwei" Youth Science and Technology Project(KJXW2018082);People's Livelihood Science and Technology Project of Suzhou Science and Technology Bureau(SYS201785);National Natural Science Foundation of China (General)(81672258)

Abstract: Objective

To investigate the effect of body weight-supported treadmill training on neuropathic pain and expression of glutamate decarboxylase-65/67 (GAD-65/67) in spinal dorsal horn of rats with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods

A total of 24 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group, SCI-sedentary (SCI-Sed) group and SCI-Exercise (SCI-Ex) group, with eight rats in each group. Allen's method was used to make T10 incomplete SCI model. Seven days after SCI, SCI-Ex group was given body weight-supported treadmill training. Before SCI, and seven days, 14 days, 21 days, 28 days and 35 days after SCI, the von Frey filaments and thermal stimulation pain tester were used to evaluate the mechanical and thermal pain thresholds. Then, Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis were performed on the spinal cord of all rats to detect the expression of GAD-65 and GAD-67.

Results

The mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were higher in SCI-Ex group than in SCI-Sed group 21 days, 28 days and 35 days after SCI (P < 0.01). Compared with the sham group, the expression of GAD-65 and GAD-67 decreased in SCI and SCI-Ex groups (P < 0.05), and increased in SCI-Ex group compared with that of SCI-Sed group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Body weight-supported treadmill training could increase the synthesis of GAD-65/67 in the distal spinal cord dorsal horn of incomplete SCI rats, and improve the pain thresholds of hind limbs in rats with SCI.

Key words: spinal cord injury, body weight-supported treadmill training, neuropathic pain, γ-aminobutyric acid, glutamate decarboxylase-65/67, rats

CLC Number: