Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal survival. This study aimed to investigate the effect of exercise intervention on post-thoracotomy pain and spinal BDNF expression. There are three groups: the sham group, thoracotomy without rib retraction; the thoracotomy group, thoracotomy with rib retraction; and the thoracotomy-exercise group, thoracotomy with rib retraction and treadmill running. Rats received treadmill training for six weeks. Mechanical thresholds through the von Frey filament stimulation were assessed, and the spinal cord was used to analyze BDNF expression. On postoperative day 10, both thoracotomy and thoracotomy-exercise groups showed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in mechanical thresholds. At the 3rd and 6th weeks after exercise, an increase (p<0.05) in mechanical thresholds was observed in the thoracotomy-exercise group. Compared to the sham group, thoracotomy rats after exercise training demonstrated an increase (p<0.05) in spinal BDNF expression, whereas thoracotomy rats displayed a decrease (p<0.05) in spinal BDNF expression. We found that treadmill running suppresses post-thoracotomy allodynia. The suppression of post-thoracotomy pain by exercise training may be related to increased BDNF in the spinal cord.