Dopamine regulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in cultured embryonic mouse striatal cells

The differentiation of striatal GABAergic neurons coincides with the perina tal establishment of nigrostriatal dopaminergic synaptic connections. We ha ve shown previously that dopamine stimulates the maturation of striatal GAB Aergic neurons. Since BDNF also regulates the development of GABAergic cell s, we hypothesized that dopamine might affect striatal BDNF expression. The influence of dopamine on BDNF protein/mRNA and trkB mRNA levels was studie d in neuronal and astroglia cultures of the mouse striatum. Stimulation wit h dopamine and a dopamine DI receptor agonist increased BDNF mRNA and prote in but not trkB mRNA in neuronal cultures. Our data indicate a potential ro le for dopamine in the developmental regulation of striatal BDNF expression and suggest that dopamine effects on GABAergic cells may be intertwined wi th BDNF action. NeuroReport 12:1175-1179 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wil kins.