Intensive weight-supported treadmill training (WSTT) improves locomotor function following @entity1566 . Because of a number of factors, undergoing intensive sessions of training may not be feasible. Whether reduced amounts of training are sufficient to enhance spinal plasticity to a level that is necessary for improving function is not known. The focus of the present study was to assess differences in @entity717 and spinal plasticity as a function of the amount of steps taken during WSTT in a rodent model of @entity1566 . @entity35 were spinally transected at 5 days of age. When they reached 28 days of age, a robotic system was used to implement a weight-supported treadmill training program of either 100 or 1000 steps/training session daily for 4 weeks. Antibodies for @entity2136 ( @entity2136 ), @entity10864 , and the pre-synaptic marker, @entity20099 , were used to examine the expression of these proteins in the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord. @entity35 that received weight-supported treadmill training performed better stepping relative to untrained @entity35 , but only the @entity35 that received 1000 steps/training session recovered locomotor function that resembled normal patterns. Only the @entity35 that received 1000 steps/training session recovered normal levels of @entity20099 immunoreactivity around motor neurons. Weight-supported treadmill training consisting of either 100 or 1000 steps/training session increased @entity2136 immunoreactivity in the ventral horn of the lumbar spinal cord. @entity10864 expression in the ventral horn was not affected by spinal cord transection or weight-supported treadmill training. @entity20099 expression, but not @entity2136 or @entity10864 expression was correlated with the recovery of stepping function. These findings suggested that a large amount of weight-supported treadmill training was necessary for restoring synaptic connections to motor neurons within the locomotor generating circuitry. Although a large amount of training was best for recovery, small amounts of training were associated with @entity1017 in function and increased @entity2136 levels.

Differential effects of low versus high amounts of weight supported treadmill training in spinally transected XXXX .

@entity2136 :: ('24225(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['BDNF', 'brain-derived neurotrophic factor'] @entity20099 :: ('24804(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['Synaptophysin', 'synaptophysin'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['Rats', 'rats'] @entity1017 :: ('MESH:D015430', 'Disease') :: ['incremental gains'] @entity1566 :: ('MESH:D013119', 'Disease') :: ['spinal cord injury'] @entity717 :: ('MESH:D009069', 'Disease') :: ['recovery of locomotor function'] @entity10864 :: ('25054(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['TrkB']
@entity35 :: (10116,Species) :: ['rats']
