title: Hypothalamic stimulation enhances hippocampal BDNF plasticity in proportion to metabolic rate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Energy metabolism is emerging as a driving force for cellular events underlying cognitive processing. The hypothalamus integrates metabolic signals with the function of centers related to cognitive processing such as the hippocampus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Hypothalamic activity can influence molecular systems important for processing synaptic plasticity underlying cognition in the hippocampus. The neurotrophin BDNF may act as a mediator for the effects of energy metabolism on synaptic plasticity and cognitive function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hypothalamus of rats confined to a respiratory chamber was electrically stimulated, and energy expenditure (EE) was assessed via indirect calorimetry. MRNA levels for BDNF and molecules related to synaptic plasticity and control of cellular energy metabolism were assessed in the hippocampus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Electrical stimulation of the rat hypothalamus elevates mRNA levels of hippocampal BDNF. BDNF mRNA levels increased according to the metabolic rate of the animals, and in proportion to the mRNA of molecules involved in control of cellular energy metabolism such as ubiquitous mitochondrial creatine kinase (uMtCK).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results show a potential mechanism by which cellular energy metabolism impacts the substrates of cognitive processing, and may provide molecular basis for therapeutic treatments based on stimulation of deep brain structures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Zhe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ying
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Covalin
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Judy
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gomez-Pinilla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001481:Basal Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020813:Receptor, trkB