Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Motor Function in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury by Increasing Synaptic Plasticity

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Regenerative Medicine
• Spinal Cord Injury Research

Background:

• Spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in severe motor dysfunction.
• Current treatments for SCI have limited efficacy in restoring motor function.
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an emerging therapeutic approach for neurological disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic effects of DBS on motor function in a rat model of SCI.
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by which DBS influences recovery after SCI.

Main Methods:

• A rat model of spinal cord injury was established using a modified Allen method.
• Animals were divided into sham, SCI, and SCI + DBS groups (n=12 per group).
• DBS was administered daily for 4 weeks, and spinal function was assessed using Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan scores.

Main Results:

• DBS treatment significantly improved hindlimb motor function in rats with SCI.
• Key proteins involved in synaptic plasticity, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB), protein kinase B (Akt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), showed increased expression.
• Elevated levels of synaptic proteins, such as postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) and synaptophysin, were observed.

Conclusions:

• Deep brain stimulation (DBS) effectively enhances motor function recovery in SCI rats.
• The mechanism involves the upregulation of synaptic plasticity through the TrkB-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway.
• DBS shows potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating spinal cord injuries.