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Effect of NT‐4 and BDNF delivery to damaged sciatic nerves on phenotypic recovery of fast and slow muscles fibres
Author(s) -
Simon Magda,
Porter Rebecca,
Brown Robert,
Coulton Gary R.,
Terenghi Giorgio
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9568.2003.02978.x
Subject(s) - sciatic nerve , anatomy , phenotype , wheel running , neuroscience , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biophysics , endocrinology , biochemistry , gene
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.