Abstract: ObjectiveTo study the effects of rehabilitation training on the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) around the cerebral infarcted area of rats.Methods60 SD rats were randomly divided into rehabilitation group and immobilization group 24 hours after cerebral infarction.The rehabilitation group were given water maze training,rotating bar and rolling cage exercises everyday while the immobilization group were fixed in cages. Histochemistry was used to detect the BDNF expression around the cerebral infarcted area at the 1st,3rd,7th,10th and 14th day after infarction respectively.ResultsAt 1st day after the infarction, the expression of BDNF increased obviously around the infarcted area in both group. More BDNF positive neurons were found in the rehabilitation group than that in the immobilization group at 3rd day (P<0.01). BDNF positive astrocytes showed obvious increasing in both group. BDNF positive neurons decreased with time going, and the color became lighter at the same time .At the 7th day after infarction, there were only a few positive neurons, and seldom obvious positive neurons could be seen around the infarcted area at 10th and 14th day. Great deal of BDNF positive astrocytes were found at 3rd,7th,10th and 14th day, and the rehabilitation group showed more expression than that of the immobilization group(P<0.01).ConclusionsThe rehabilitation training may increase the expression of BDNF which might take an active part in the recovery of the central nervous system injury and the rebuilding of its function.

Key words: rehabilitation, cerebral infarction, brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF), rats