title: Cellular mechanisms underlying an effect of "early handling" on pCREB and BDNF in the neonatal rat hippocampus.
abstract: Early experiences have long-term effects on brain function and behavior. However, the precise mechanisms involved still remain elusive. In an effort to address this issue, we employed the model of "early handling", which is known to affect the ability of the adult organism to respond to stressful stimuli, and determined its effects on hippocampal pCREB and BDNF 2, 4, and 8 h later. 8 h following "handling" on postnatal day 1, there was an increase in pCREB and BDNF positive cells in the hippocampus, a brain area which is a specific target of "handling". On the other hand, vehicle injection resulted in decreased pCREB and BDNF in both handled and non-handled animals 2 and 4 h later. The "handling"-induced increase of pCREB and BDNF was cancelled by inhibition of NMDA, AMPA/kainate, GABA-A, 5-HT1A or 5-HT2A/C receptors, as well as L-type voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels. It thus appears that "early handling" activates these neurotransmitter receptors, leading to increased intracellular Ca(2+), phosphorylation of the transcription factor CREB, and increased BDNF expression. BDNF can then exert its morphogenetic effects and thus "imprint" the effects of "handling" on the brain.
authors: Laboratory of Biology-Biochemistry, School of Health Sciences, University of Athens, Greece.
authors: Efstathios
authors: E
authors: Garoflos
authors: Antonios
authors: A
authors: Stamatakis
authors: Athanasios
authors: A
authors: Mantelas
authors: Helen
authors: H
authors: Philippidis
authors: Fotini
authors: F
authors: Stylianopoulou
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D006624:Hippocampus; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D001640:Bicuculline