Table 1.
Different experimental groups utilized in this study
| Experimental groups | Total number of animals |
|---|---|
| Spinal intact (A) | n = 6 (6) |
| SCI 1 week (B) | n = 6 (6) |
| SCI 4 weeks (C) | n = 6 (6) |
| SCI 4 weeks + (saline, 1, 10, and 20 μg) TrkB-Ig2 (D) | n = 6 (6) |
| SCI 1 week + chronic sterile saline (E) | n = 4 (4) |
| SCI 4 weeks + chronic sterile saline (F) | n = 4 (4) |
| SCI + TrkB-Ig2 20 μg/d for 1 week (G) | n = 7 (6) |
| SCI + BDNF 0.7 μg/d for 4 weeks (H) | n = 8 (6) |
| SCI + BDNF 2.1 μg/d for 4 weeks (I) | n = 8 (6) |
In Groups A–C, assessment of bladder function was performed in spinal-intact and in SCI animals at the end of first and fourth week post injury. In Group D, 4 week SCI animals were acutely treated, via an intrathecal catheter, with increasing amounts of a BDNF scavenger, TrkB-Ig2. Groups E and F received chronic intrathecal administration of saline for 1 week or 4 weeks post-SCI, respectively, via an osmotic mini-pump linked to a silicone intrathecal catheter. Group G was submitted to chronic delivery of TrkB-Ig2, using an intrathecal catheter connected to an osmotic mini-pump, for 1 week. Treatment was initiated immediately after SCI. SCI rats in Groups H and I were submitted to chronic intrathecal delivery of BDNF for four weeks post-SCI. Two different doses were tested, 0.7 and 2.1 μg/d. As in Groups E–G, treatment was initiated immediately after surgical cord lesion. Number of animals used for data analysis shown in parenthesis.