Brain-derived neurotrophic factor release with neuronal activity in fetal rats.
Patterned spontaneous activity is generated in developing neuronal circuits in the brain and spinal cord. Here we test the hypothesis that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is released with spontaneous rhythmic neural discharge in the embryonic rat. The level of endogenous rhythmic discharge generated by in vitro brainstem-spinal cord preparations was increased from control by elevating extracellular potassium and decreased by tetrodotoxin or a cocktail of receptor antagonists. The concentration of BDNF in the bathing medium was detected via ELISA. BDNF levels were decreased by 45-65% in the presence of TTX or receptor antagonists and increased by 25% in elevated extracellular potassium. These data demonstrate that BDNF is released in association with an endogenous rhythmic activity generated by the developing CNS.
Ba
Fang
F
Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Ren
Jun
J
Greer
John J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D013779:Tetrodotoxin