Brain-derived neurotrophic factor is required for axonal growth of selective groups of neurons in the arcuate nucleus.

ABSTRACT:

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 control energy balance.

Methods

We examined the role of BDNF on survival, axonal projections, and synaptic inputs of neurons in the arcuate nucleus (ARH), a structure critical for the control of energy balance, using Bdnf (klox/klox) mice, which lack long 3' UTR Bdnf mRNA and develop severe hyperphagic obesity.

Results

We found that a small fraction of neurons that express the r

SUBMITTER: Liao GY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4443292 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature