title: Proteolytic cleavage of proBDNF into mature BDNF in the basolateral amygdala is necessary for defeat-induced social avoidance.
abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for memory processes. The present study tested whether proteolytic cleavage of proBDNF into mature BDNF (mBDNF) within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) regulates the consolidation of defeat-related memories. We found that acute social defeat increases the expression of mBDNF, but not proBDNF, in the BLA/central amygdala. We also showed that blocking plasmin in the BLA with microinjection of α2-antiplasmin immediately following social defeat decreases social avoidance 24 h later. These data suggest the proteolytic cleavage of BDNF in the BLA is necessary for defeat-induced social avoidance.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA bdulka@vols.utk.edu.
authors.forename: Brooke N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Dulka
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Nathaniel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Donnell
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Travis D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Goode
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prosser
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D066272:Basolateral Nuclear Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D059748:Proteolysis; D012930:Social Dominance
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor