title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) overexpression in the forebrain results in learning and memory impairments.
abstract: In this study we analyzed the effect on behavior of a chronic exposure to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), by analysing a mouse line overexpressing BDNF under the alphaCaMKII promoter, which drives the transgene expression exclusively to principal neurons of the forebrain. BDNF transgenic mice and their WT littermates were examined with a battery of behavioral tests, in order to evaluate motor coordination, learning, short and long-term memory formation. Our results demonstrate that chronic BDNF overexpression in the central nervous system (CNS) causes learning deficits and short-term memory impairments, both in spatial and instrumental learning tasks. This observation suggests that a widespread increase in BDNF in forebrain networks may result in adverse effects on learning and memory formation.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Angelucci
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Antoni
authors.forename: Mate D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Dobrossy
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dunnett
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brambilla
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009043:Motor Activity; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D004856:Postural Balance; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor