NR2A but not NR2B N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit is altered in the visual cortex of BDNF-knock-out mice

1. Aim of the present paper is to study the expression of N-Methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits NR2A and NR2B within mouse visual cortex. 2. To investigate the influence of neurotrophic factor of NGF family (neurotrophins) on NMDAR expression we used mutant mice carrying a deletion in the gene for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a well-known neurotrophin expressed in visual cortex. 3. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were performed at postnatal day P12-14, P21-23, and adulthood showing that both subunits change during postnatal development. 4. Absence of BDNF induced a reduction of NR2A level. This effect was specific since the other subunit investigated, NR2B, was not affected in mutant mice. 5. We conclude that endogenous BDNF modulates NMDAR expression in the developing visual cortex.