Kainic acid, tetrodotoxin and light modulate expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in developing avian retinal ganglion cells and their tectal target

• Increasing evidence underlies the importance of neurotrophins as neuron-derived trophic signals in the developing visual system, although their precise roles are still undefined. Here we show that brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA is simultaneously expressed in a subpopulation of retinal ganglion cells and in their target during late embryogenesis. Moreover, light as well as the excitotoxin; kainic acid, induced an increase of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA, which could be blocked by the sodium-channel blocker; tetrodotoxin. Messenger RNA for trkB, a receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, was found in the retinal ganglion cells expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor showing that certain retinal ganglion cells express messenger RNA both for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and trkB. Furthermore, trkB messenger RNA was found in tectum, in the same layers as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA. These findings suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression is regulated in an activity-dependent manner during the phase of development when neuronal activity plays an important role.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Neurovetenskaper (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Neurosciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)