Table 2. Locomotor capabilities of spinal rats in PBS- (SP-PBS) and BDNF-treated (SP-BDNF) groups evaluated during hindlimb walking on a moving treadmill.

Group Rat No	Evaluation of motor performance of spinal rats walking on the moving treadmill (modified BBB scale)										Sacrifice day
	Early post-operative period					Late post-operative period
	No tail stimulation		Tail stimulation		Testing day	No tail stimulation		Tail stimulation		Testing day
	Level	Score	Level	Score		Level	Score	Level	Score
SP-PBS
5.1	1	0	2	4	7	2	2	2	13	47	49
5.2	1	0	2	5	6	2	3	2	13	52	54
5.4	NA	NA	NA	NA	–	2	2	2	13	35	38
Mean ± SD		0±0.00		4.5±0.71			2.3±0.58		13±0.00
Median		0		4.5			2		13
SP-BDNF
4.1	4	11	4	17	16	4	11	4	17	39	39
4.2	4	13	4	17	17	–	–	–	–	–	–
4.3	4	11	4	19	15	4	16	4	17	37	40
4.4	4	11	4	17	14	2	3	2	16	40	40
4.5	4	17	4	17	13	4	11	4	11	39	40
4.6	4	17	4	19	13	4	19	4	17	40	44
4.7	2	3	4	11	13	4	16	4	11	40	41
4.8	2	3	4	13	11	4	18	4	12	42	44
4.9	4	15	4	17	10	–	–	–	–	–	–
4.10	4	17	4	19	9	4	11	4	17	37	47
4.11	1	0	2	3	8	4	18	4	15	47	49
Mean ± SD		10.7±6.13		15.4±4.80			13.7±5.14		14.8±2.68
Median		11		17			16		16

Differences between scores achieved with- and without tail stimulation in SP-BDNF group in early post-operative period are significant (Wilcoxon test, P = 0.005). Differences between SP-PBS and SP-BDNF groups without tail stimulation in late post-operative period are also significant (Mann-Whitney U test; P = 0.02). NA – not analyzed.

BBB scale modified by Antri and coworkers [54], [55] was used for assessment of bipedal treadmill locomotion in adult, spinalized rats. There are four major levels and 22 scores of recovery of motor capabilities, where level 4 and score 22 correspond to locomotion of intact animal. Animals were tested twice during the experiment, in the early and late post-operative period (exact testing days are shown).