Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor mRNA in the vestibuloauditory system of the bullfrog.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin which has been suggested to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of the inner ear. In the present study, we investigated the expression of mRNAs of BDNF and its high-affinity receptor trkB in the vestibuloauditory system of the adult bullfrog. In situ hybridization was performed using riboprobes transcribed from Xenopus BDNF and trkB cDNA clones. BDNF mRNA was expressed in the sensory epithelia of the ampullary cristae, utricular and saccular maculae, lagena, and amphibian and basilar papillae. Strong hybridization for BDNF mRNA was also found in neuron somata of the vestibuloauditory nuclear complex. trkB mRNA was detected in the sensory epithelia of all vestibular and auditory endorgans. High levels of both BDNF and trkB mRNAs were found in vestibuloauditory ganglion cells. These results support the hypothesis that BDNF participates in the maintenance of vestibuloauditory neurons and may be important for the trophic regulation of vestibular and auditory sensory epithelia in this animal model.
Don
D M
DM
Department of Surgery, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, 90095-1624, USA.
Newman
A N
AN
Micevych
P E
PE
Popper
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D015347:RNA Probes; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011892:Rana catesbeiana; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D020813:Receptor, trkB; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D013136:Spiral Ganglion / Q000378:metabolism; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000378:metabolism*; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000378:metabolism
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015347:RNA Probes; D018075:RNA, Complementary; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020813:Receptor, trkB