Original Article

Gonadectomy affects brain derived neurotrophic factor in rats after chronic constriction nerve injury

Xin ZHAO, Xin WANG, Shu-yun ZHENG, Jian-guo XU

Abstract

AIM:
To assess the effect of gonadectomy on brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in neuropathic pain.
METHODS:
Using chronic constriction injury (CCI) model, we detected BDNF mRNA in dorsal root ganglion and protein content in spinal cord by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay respectively. The time point we chose was post CCI operation d 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21.
RESULTS:
After CCI surgery, BDNF mRNA in ipsilateral DRGs was upregulated and reached its maximum on post operation d 7. BDNF protein level in ipsilateral spinal cord was also increased and reached its maximum on post operation d 14. The magnitude of this increase in gonadectomy (GDX) rats was significantly smaller than the GDX-sham rats at each time point.
CONCLUSION:
Gonadectomy reduced the BDNF increment after CCI surgery. Estrogen may affect nociceptive processing by its effect on BDNF.
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