title: Activity-dependent transcription of BDNF enhances visual acuity during development.
abstract: In the developing Xenopus tadpole, conditioning with 20 min of visual stimulation leads to increased proBDNF protein levels in the tectum measured 4 hr later. Following conditioning, the ability to induce direction selectivity in tectal neurons, as well as both retinotectal long-term potentiation and depression, thought to underlie this phenomenon, was strongly facilitated. This facilitation was blocked by knockdown of BDNF expression in tectal neurons. Animals that had been exposed to visual conditioning and subsequently received normal visual input for 7-11 hr exhibited higher spatial frequency thresholds of tectal cell responses to counterphasing gratings than nonconditioned control animals. An improvement in visual acuity was confirmed by enhanced sensitivity to counterphasing gratings in a behavioral test. These results indicate that brief sensory stimulation, by initiating nuclear transcription and de novo protein synthesis of BDNF, can facilitate the refinement of response properties in the developing visual system.
authors.affiliation: Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schohl
authors.forename: Edward S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ruthazer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007814:Larva; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*; D014981:Xenopus
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002227:Carbazoles; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010879:Piperazines; D011498:Protein Precursors; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D003609:Dactinomycin; C049985:staurosporine aglycone; C050592:3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid