This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 38/7/2165    most recent STROKEAHA.106.477331v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Schäbitz, W.-R. Articles by Kuhn, H. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Schäbitz, W.-R. Articles by Kuhn, H. G. Pubmed/NCBI databases Substance via MeSH Medline Plus Health Information Stroke Related Collections Animal models of human disease Growth factors/cytokines Behavioral Changes and Stroke Brain Circulation and Metabolism

(Stroke. 2007;38:2165.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Intravenous Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Enhances Poststroke Sensorimotor Recovery and Stimulates Neurogenesis

Wolf-Rüdiger Schäbitz, MD; Tobias Steigleder, MD; Christiana M. Cooper-Kuhn, PhD; Stefan Schwab, MD; Clemens Sommer, MD; Armin Schneider, MD H. Georg Kuhn, PhD

From the Department of Neurology (W.-R.S.), University of Münster, Germany; the Department of Neurology (T.S., S.S.), University of Erlangen, Germany; the Department of Neuropathology (C.S.), University of Mainz, Germany; Sygnis Pharma (A.S.), Heidelberg, Germany; and the Institute for Neuroscience and Physiology (C.M.C.-K., H.G.K.), Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden.

Correspondence to W.-R. Schäbitz, Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Münster, Albert-Schweitzer-Strasse 33, 48149 Münster, Germany. E-mail schabitz{at}uni-muenster.de

Background and Purpose— The discovery of spontaneous neuronal replacement in the adult brain has shifted experimental stroke therapies toward a combined approach of preventing neuronal cell death and inducing neuronal plasticity. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was shown to induce antiapoptotic mechanisms after stroke and to reduce infarct size and secondary neuronal cell death. Moreover, in intact animals, BDNF is a potent stimulator of adult neurogenesis.

Methods— The current study analyzed the effects of BDNF on induction of neuronal progenitor cell migration and sensorimotor recovery after cortical photothrombotic stroke.

Results— Daily intravenous bolus applications of BDNF during the first 5 days after stroke resulted in significantly improved sensorimotor scores up to 6 weeks. At the structural level, BDNF significantly increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus and enhanced migration of subventricular zone progenitor cells to the nearby striatum of the ischemic hemisphere. BDNF treatment could not, however, further stimulate progenitor cell recruitment to the cortex.

Conclusions— These findings consolidate the role of BDNF as a modulator of neurogenesis in the brain and as an enhancer of long-term functional neurological outcome after cerebral ischemia.

Key Words: animal models • brain recovery, experimental • growth factors • neural stem cells • neuroregeneration

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. Tanaka, Y. Tozuka, T. Takata, N. Shimazu, N. Matsumura, A. Ohta, and T. Hisatsune Excitatory GABAergic Activation of Cortical Dividing Glial Cells Cereb Cortex, September 1, 2009; 19(9): 2181 - 2195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Baykal Is There a Pool of Neuroblasts? Stroke, July 1, 2009; 40(7): e495 - e495. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Ploughman, V. Windle, C. L. MacLellan, N. White, J. J. Dore, and D. Corbett Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Contributes to Recovery of Skilled Reaching After Focal Ischemia in Rats Stroke, April 1, 2009; 40(4): 1490 - 1495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Sarkamo, M. Tervaniemi, S. Laitinen, A. Forsblom, S. Soinila, M. Mikkonen, T. Autti, H. M. Silvennoinen, J. Erkkila, M. Laine, et al. Music listening enhances cognitive recovery and mood after middle cerebral artery stroke Brain, March 1, 2008; 131(3): 866 - 876. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]