Local acute application of BDNF in the lesioned spinal cord anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects

We studied the early anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of local application of BDNF after dorsal spinal cord transection in the adult rat. Both the distribution and accumulation of neutrophils and microglial cells in and around the lesion site (inflammatory response) and the accumulation of lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE; oxidative damage) around the lesion was examined using immunohistochemical techniques. We demonstrate that BDNF application affects the microglial response in and around the lesion and results in a reduced lipid peroxidation as shown by HNE-immunoreactive staining around the lesion 48 h post-injury. The early anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of local BDNF-application into the lesioned spinal cord may contribute to the observed decreased loss of locomotor function of the hindlimbs 2 days after injury.