BDNF GENE TRANSCRIPTS IN MESENCEPHALIC NEURONS AND ITS DIFFERENTIAL REGULATION BY NMDA

BRAIN-DERIVED neurotrophic factor (BDNF) enhances survival and protect s dopaminergic neurons from neurotoxicity. We have examined in primary cultures of fetal mesencephalic neurons the expression of BDNF transc ripts and its regulation by glutamate receptor agonists. RT-PCR experi ments showed in these cultures the expression of mRNA encoding for neu rotrophin receptors TrkA, TrkB and TrkC as well as a differential expr ession of alternative BDNF gene transcripts derived from exons la, Ib, Ic and Id. In adult rat mesencephalon we only detected BDNF mRNAs ori ginated from exons la and Ic. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis of mesencep halic neurons revealed that NMDA, but not kainate treatment, significa ntly increased BDNF mRNAs derived from exons Ib and Id. Our data indic ate the existence in mesencephalic neurons of different and alternativ e promoters within the BDNF gene that may be differentially regulated by glutamate receptor stimulation. (C) 1998 Rapid Science Ltd.