Chronic BDNF simultaneously inhibits and unmasks superficial dorsal horn neuronal activity.

ABSTRACT: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critically involved in the pathophysiology of chronic pain. However, the mechanisms of BDNF action on specific neuronal populations in the spinal superficial dorsal horn (SDH) requires further study. We used chronic BDNF treatment (200 ng/ml, 5-6 days) of defined-medium, serum-free spinal organotypic cultures to study intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) fluctuations. A detailed quantitative analysis of these fluctuations using the Frequency-independent biological signal identification (FIBSI) program revealed that BDNF simultaneously depressed activity in some SDH neurons while it unmasked a particular subpopulation of 'silent' neurons causing them to become spontaneously active. Blockade of gap junctions disinhibited a subpopul

SUBMITTER: Alles SRA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7838274 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature