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Effect of NT-4 and BDNF delivery to damaged sciatic nerves on phenotypic recovery of fast and slow muscles fibres.
Simon M, Porter R, Brown R, Coulton G, Terenghi G
Eur J Neurosci. 2003;18( 9):2460-6.
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Abstract
We investigated whether neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) affected the reinnervation of slow and fast motor units. Neurotrophin-impregnated or plain fibronectin (FN) conduits were inserted into a sciatic nerve gap. Fast extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and slow soleus muscles were collected 4 months postsurgery. Muscles were weighed and fibre type proportion and mean fibre diameters were derived from muscle cross-sections. All fibre types in muscles from FN animals were severely atrophied and this correlated well with type 1 fibre loss and atrophy in soleus and type 2b loss and atrophy in EDL. Treatment with NT-4 reversed soleus but not EDL mass loss above the FN group by significantly restoring type 1 muscle fibre proportion and diameters towards those of normal unoperated animals. BDNF did not increase muscle mass but did have minor effects on fibre type and diameter. Thus, NT-4 significantly improved slow motor unit recovery, and provides a basis for therapies intended to aid the functional recovery of muscles after denervating injury.
Keyword(s)
Animals; Male; Nerve Regeneration; Rats; Rats, Inbred Lew; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; administration & dosage: Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; administration & dosage: Nerve Growth Factors; drug effects: Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch; drug effects: Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch; drug effects: Muscle, Skeletal; drug effects: Sciatic Nerve