BDNF deficiency and enriched environment treatment affect neurotransmitter gene expression differently across ages

AbstractDeficiency of activity ‐induced expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor BDNF) disturbs neurotransmitter gene expression. Enriched environment treatment (EET) ameliorates the defects. However, how BDNF deficiency and EET affect neurotransmitter gene expression differently across ages remains unclear. We address ed this question by determining neurotransmitter gene expression across three life stages in wild‐type and activity‐dependent BDNF deficient (KIV) mice. Mice received 2‐months of standard control treatment (SCT) or EET at early‐life development (ED: 0–2 months), young adulthood (2–4 mont hs), and old adulthood (12–14 months)(N=16/group). Half of these mice received additional one‐month SCT to examine persisting EET effects. High‐throughput qRT‐PCR measured expression of 81 genes for dopamine, adrenaline, serotonin, GABA, glutamate, acetylcholine, and BDNF systems in the fron tal cortex (FC) and hippocampus. Results revealed that BDNF deficiency mostly reduced neurotransmitter gene expression, greatest at ED in the FC. EET increased expression of a larger number of genes at ED than adulthood, particularly in the KIV FC. Many genes downregulated in KIV mice were upregulat ed by EET, which persisted when EET was provided at ED (e.g., 5HTT, ADRA1D, GRIA3, GABRA5, GABBR2). In both regions, BDNF deficiency decreased the density of gene co‐expression network specifically at ED, while EET increased the density and hub genes (e.g., GAT1,...
Source: Journal of Neurochemistry - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLE Source Type: research