BDNF and GAP43 contribute to dynamic transhemispheric functional reorganization in rat brain after contralateral C7 root transfer following brachial plexus avulsion injuries

It is known that contralateral seventh cervical nerve (C7) root transfer after brachial plexus avulsion injuries (BPAI) causes interhemispheric cortical functional reorganization. However, the potential mechanisms and the role of neurotrophic factors and/or growth-associated protein expression in the process of cerebral reorganization are not well understood. The present study identified the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) mRNA in primary motor cortex after contralateral C7 root transfer following BPAI. BDNF and GAP43 mRNA levels were significantly increased in brain samples at both 6 and 9 months after contralateral C7 root transfer following BPAI, in comparison with the samples from the rats with BPAI only. These findings indicate that BDNF and GAP43 may play an important role during the dynamic transhemispheric functional reorganization.

• In our study, we investigated the expression of BDNF and GAP43 in the process of cerebral reorganization after contralateral C7 root transfer following brachial plexus avulsion injuries.
• We observed BDNF and GAP43 mRNA expression increase in primary motor cortex at both 6 and 9 months after contralateral C7 root transfer following brachial plexus avulsion injuries, in comparison with those in the rats with brachial plexus avulsion injuries only.
• Our experimental results indicate that BDNF and GAP43 may play an important role during the dynamical transhemispheric functional reorganization.