title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor enhances conditioned taste aversion retention.
abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has recently emerged as one of the most potent molecular mediators of not only central synaptic plasticity, but also behavioral interactions between an organism and its environment. Our previous studies on the insular cortex (IC), a region of the temporal cortex implicated in the acquisition and storage of conditioned taste aversion (CTA), have demonstrated that induction of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the projection from the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (Bla) to the IC, previous to CTA training, enhances the retention of this task. Recently, we found that intracortical microinfusion of BDNF induces a lasting potentiation of synaptic efficacy in the Bla-IC projection of adult rats in vivo. In this work, we present experimental data showing that intracortical microinfusion of BDNF previous to CTA training enhances the retention of this task. These findings support the concept that BDNF may contribute to memory-related functions performed by a neocortical area, playing a critical role in long-term synaptic plasticity.
authors.affiliation: División de Investigación y Estudios de Posgrado, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México D.F., México.
authors.forename: Diana V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Castillo
authors.forename: Yazmín
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Figueroa-Guzmán
authors.forename: Martha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Escobar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor