PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF BRAIN-DERIVED NEUROTROPHIC FACTOR ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIPPOCAMPAL KINDLING IN THE RAT

RECENT data have suggested the involvement of neurotrophins in the cas cade of events occurring during seizure development. In particular, ex pression of both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its rece ptor mRNAs increases in different brain structures after convulsive se izures. The physiological significance of this increase was investigat ed by chronic intrahippocampal perfusion of BDNF in the model of dorsa l hippocampal kindling in the rat. A 7 day perfusion of BDNF, in the r egion of the stimulating electrode, blocked the development of kindlin g during the perfusion period and for the following 15 days. These res ults provide in vivo evidence for a protective role of BDNF in the reg ulation of plasticity involved in epileptogenesis in adult brain.