Loss Of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Research Articles

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Conditional Knockouts Show Gender Differences in Depression-Related Behaviors

Indirect evidence suggests that loss of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) from forebrain regions contributes to an individual's vulnerability for depression, whereas upregulation of BDNF in these regions is suggested to mediate the therapeutic effect of antidepressants. We have tested this hypothesis by generating two independent lines of conditional BDNF knockout mice in which the BDNF gene is deleted selectively in forebrain. We show that male conditional knockouts exhibit hyperactivity but normal depression-related behaviors. In contrast, female conditional knockouts display normal locomotor activity but a striking increase in depression-like behavior. We also demonstrate that loss of BDNF in both male and female mice attenuates the actions of the antidepressant desipramine in the forced swim test. These gender differences in depression-related behaviors in BDNF conditional knockout mice provide direct evidence for a role of BDNF in depression. The results also support the view that forebrain BDNF may be essential in mediating antidepressant efficacy.

Decreased levels of BDNF protein in Alzheimer temporal cortex are independent of BDNF polymorphisms

Levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are reduced in specific brain regions in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and BDNF gene polymorphisms have been suggested to influence AD risk, hippocampal function, and memory. We investigated whether the polymorphisms at the BDNF 196 and 270 loci were associated with AD in a clinical and neuropathological cohort of 116 AD cases and 77 control subjects. To determine how BDNF protein levels relate to BDNF polymorphisms and AD pathology, we also measured BDNF in temporal association cortex, frontal association cortex, and cerebellum in 57 of the AD and 21 control cases. BDNF protein levels in temporal neocortex of the AD brains were reduced by 33% compared to control brains, whereas levels were unchanged in frontal and cerebellar cortex. The BDNF genotypes were not significantly associated with a diagnosis of AD, although the BDNF 270 C allele was slightly overrepresented among carriers of the APOEɛ4 allele. Moreover, BDNF protein levels did not differ between the various BDNF genotypes and alleles. Neuropathologically, the loss of BDNF in AD showed a weak correlation with accumulation of neuritic amyloid plaques and loss of the neuronal/synaptic marker synaptophysin. The results suggest that the investigated BDNF polymorphisms are neither robust genetic risk factors nor determinants of BDNF protein levels in AD.

Progressive loss of BDNF in a mouse model of Huntington's disease and rescue by BDNF delivery

Huntingtin is a protein of 348 kDa that is mutated in Huntington's disease (HD), a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder. Previous data have led us to propose that aspects of the disease arise from both a loss of the neuroprotective function of the wild-type protein, and a toxic activity gained by the mutant protein. In particular, we have shown that wild-type huntingtin stimulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a pro-survival factor for the striatal neurons that die in the pathology. Wild-type huntingtin controls BDNF gene transcription in cerebral cortex, which is then delivered to its striatal targets. In the disease state, supply of cortical BDNF to the striatum is strongly reduced, possibly leading to striatal vulnerability. Here we show that a reduction in cortical BDNF messenger level correlates with the progression of the disease in a mouse model of HD. In particular, we show that the progressive loss of mRNAs transcribed from BDNF exon II, III and IV follows a different pattern that may reflect different upstream mechanisms impaired by mutation in huntingtin. On this basis, we also discuss the possibility that delivery of BDNF may represent an useful strategy for Huntington's disease treatment.

Essential role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in adult hippocampal function.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal development and function. However, it has been difficult to discern its role in the adult brain in influencing complex behavior. Here, we use a recently developed inducible knockout system to show that deleting BDNF in broad forebrain regions of adult mice impairs hippocampal-dependent learning and long-term potentiation. We use the inducible nature of this system to show that the loss of BDNF during earlier stages of development causes hyperactivity and more pronounced hippocampal-dependent learning deficits. We also demonstrate that the loss of forebrain BDNF attenuates the actions of desipramine, an antidepressant, in the forced swim test, suggesting the involvement of BDNF in antidepressant efficacy. These results establish roles for BDNF in the adult, and demonstrate the strength of this inducible knockout system in studying gene function in the adult brain.

Expression of Functional Tyrosine Kinase B Receptors by Rhythmically Active Respiratory Neurons in the Pre-Bötzinger Complex of Neonatal Mice

Genetic loss of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) severely disrupts brainstem control of respiratory rhythmogenesis in newborn mice; however, the sites at which BDNF acts to regulate respiratory rhythmogenesis are unknown. Using immunochemical and multiplex RT-PCR analysis in mouse brainstem slices, we report that the BDNF receptor, Tyrosine kinase B (TrkB), is strongly expressed in the pre-Bötzinger complex (PBC), the presumed site for rhythm generation, and colocalizes with neurokinin 1 (NK1), a marker of neurons critical for breathing. The period of the respiratory rhythm generated by PBC neurons in vitro was increased by 30% after BDNF treatment (100 ng/ml) and not by nerve growth factor (100 ng/ml) or BDNF (100 ng/ml) in the presence of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor K252a (200 nm). Both synaptic and voltage-dependent properties of PBC neurons were modified by BDNF. Synaptic currents underlying spontaneous rhythmic bursts and glutamate-evoked currents were enhanced by 66 and 33%, respectively. BDNF reduced the Ih current amplitude in rhythmic neurons by 46% and shifted its activation curve by -17 mV. All neurons expressing TrkB mRNA (n = 8) also expressed mRNAs for the Ih current [hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-sensitive cation nonselective channel (HCN1)], and three of four NK1-positive neurons coexpressed TrkB and HCN mRNA. Six of 16 PBC neurons expressed BDNF mRNA, supporting the possibility of autocrine and paracrine actions of BDNF within the respiratory pattern generator. Our data demonstrate that BDNF can modulate respiratory network activity through TrkB signaling in rhythmic PBC neurons.

Low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine kinase receptor B are related to loss of dentate granule cells after prolonged low-protein feeding in the rat

Protein deprivation leads to neuronal and synaptic loss in the hippocampal formation, and to behavioral changes. We suggested that these effects could result from alterations in the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB). To investigate this issue, adult rats were submitted to protein deprivation for 6 months and compared with controls. The number of neurons of the dentate gyrus granular layer containing BDNF and TrkB was estimated from immunostained sections and the mRNA levels of BDNF and TrkB evaluated using in situ hybridization. After treatment, there was a loss of BDNF- and TrkB-immunoreactive cells and a reduction of the mRNA levels. Thus, it is likely that the decreased neurotrophic activity in the dentate gyrus of malnourished animals underpins neuronal degeneration and the ensuing behavioral alterations.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is required for normal development of the central respiratory rhythm in mice.

1. Molecular mechanisms underlying maturation of the central respiratory rhythm are largely unknown. Previously, we found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is required for expression of normal breathing behaviour in newborn mice, raising the possibility that maturation of central respiratory output is dependent on BDNF. 2. Respiratory activity was recorded in vitro from cervical ventral roots (C1 or C4) using the isolated brainstem-spinal cord preparation from postnatal day (P) 0.5-2.0 and P4.5 wild-type mice and mice lacking functional bdnf alleles. 3. Loss of one or both bdnf alleles resulted in an approximately 50% depression of central respiratory frequency compared with wild-type controls. In addition, respiratory cycle length variability was 214% higher in bdnf null (bdnf-/-) animals compared with controls at P4.5. In contrast, respiratory burst duration was unaffected by bdnf gene mutation. 4. These derangements of central respiratory rhythm paralleled the ventilatory depression and irregular breathing characteristic of bdnf mutants in vivo, indicating that central deficits can largely account for the abnormalities in resting ventilation produced by genetic loss of BDNF. BDNF is thus the first growth factor identified that is required for normal development of the central respiratory rhythm, including the stabilization of central respiratory output that occurs after birth.