Multiple studies have demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a potent modulator of neuronal structure and function in the hippocampus. However, the majority of studies to date have relied on the application of recombinant BDNF. We herein report that endogenous BDNF, released via theta burst stimulation of mossy fibers (MF), elicits a slowly developing cationic current and...

We found that a short exercise period enhanced cognitive function on the Morris water maze (MWM), such that exercised animals were significantly better than sedentary controls at learning and recalling the location of the platform. The finding that exercise increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule important for synaptic plasticity and learning and memory, impelled us to ex...

The recombinant form of tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is the only curative treatment for ischemic stroke. Recently, t-PA has been linked to the metabolism of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a major neurotrophin involved in post-stroke neuroplasticity. Thus, the objective of our study was to investigate the impact of rt-PA treatment on post-stroke circulating BDNF levels in huma...

BDNF is a pro-survival protein involved in neuronal development and synaptic plasticity. BDNF strengthens excitatory synapses and contributes to LTP, presynaptically, through enhancement of glutamate release, and postsynaptically, via phosphorylation of neurotransmitter receptors, modulation of receptor traffic and activation of the translation machinery. We examined whether BDNF upregulated ve...

We have examined the influence of glutamate on cortical brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Kainic acid (KA) produced an upregulation of hippocampal and neocortical BDNF mRNA as well as BDNF protein that was blocked by a non-NMDA antagonist, 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX), but was not affected by the NMDA antagonist ...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a member of the neurotrophin family, modulates neuronal survival, differentiation, and synaptic function. Reduced BDNF expression in the cortex caused by mutation of the huntingtin gene has been suggested to play a role in the striatal degeneration observed in Huntington's disease. BDNF expression rises dramatically in the cortex during the first few we...

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been linked to the development, differentiation, and plasticity of the central nervous system. In the present study, we first used a highly specific affinity-purified antibody and a cRNA probe to generate a detailed mapping of BDNF immunoreactive (BDNF-ir) staining and mRNA labeling throughout the forebrain of female prairie voles. Our data revealed ...

Brain metastasis (BM) in breast cancer is a devastating condition, yet little known about features unique to the brain environment. When develops ER-positive cancer, endocrine therapy can still work as main treatment. Several pieces of research have concluded on estrogen effect and activity toward BM. The purpose this study was find prognostic factors treatment strategies that could extend brai...

Serotonin (5-HT) has been proposed to promote neuronal plasticity during the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders and following neurodegenerative insult by altering the expression of critical genes including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In this study, mice with constitutive reductions in the serotonin transporter (SERT) or BDNF were investigated to further assess the functional ...

OBJECTIVE Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a potent regulator of neuronal development, and the Bdnf gene produces two populations of transcripts with either a short or long 3' untranslated region (3' UTR). Deficiencies in BDNF signaling have been shown to cause severe obesity in humans; however, it remains unknown how BDNF signaling impacts the organization of neuronal circuits that ...