[Expressional change of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adult cat spared DRG]

This investigation was aimed to search the expressional change of BDNF in the normal and spared L6DRG. The L6DRGs from 20 adult male cats (5 normal cats, 15 unilateral L6 spared roots cats allowed to survive 3 days, 6 days and 12 days respectively) were embedded in paraffin, using immunohistochemical reaction to detect BDNF.

1. Normal DRG neurons were divided into three categories(large, medium and small) with the cell body diameter 32 microns and 44 microns as the dividing lines. 2. There are 50.87% BDNF positive neurons in normal L6DRG. After operation, the number of BDNF positive neurons of the operated side DRG significantly increased, especially 6 days(76.70%). Normal and postoperative BDNF positive neurons were mainly small neurons. After partial section of DRG, the expression of BDNF in spared DRG neurons increased, which might be involved in promoting collateral sprouting of spared root in spinal cord and rescuing the dorsal horn neurons from partial deafferentation.