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Expression changes of multiple brain-derived neurotrophic factor transcripts in selective spinal nerve ligation model
Hiroyuki Kobayashi1, Masataka Yokoyama, Yoshikazu Matsuoka
1Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Graduate School Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1, Shikata-cho, Okayama City 700-8558, Japan.
Brain Research
|March 21, 2008
Summary
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) exon I expression increases in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) following nerve injury or inflammation. This specific transcript plays a key role in the overall BDNF response in the DRG.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is crucial for neuronal survival and function.
- Changes in BDNF expression are observed in various pain models.
- Novel 5' untranslated exons of rat BDNF have been recently identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression profiles of novel BDNF transcripts in rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) under different pain conditions.
- To determine the role of specific BDNF exons in response to L5-selective spinal nerve ligation (SSNL) and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) models.
Main Methods:
- Rats were subjected to L5-selective spinal nerve ligation (SSNL) or complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) models.
- Expression levels of total BDNF mRNA and specific BDNF transcripts (including novel exons) were analyzed in ipsilateral and contralateral DRGs.
- Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess mRNA expression.
Main Results:
- L5SSNL significantly increased total BDNF mRNA and several specific transcripts (exons I, IIA, IIB, IIC, III, IV, VI, IXA) in the ipsilateral L4 DRG.
- In the ipsilateral L5 DRG of the L5SSNL model, total BDNF mRNA was unchanged, but exon I increased and exon IV decreased significantly.
- Exon I was the most abundant BDNF transcript in ipsilateral DRGs across both models.
- L5SSNL increased total BDNF mRNA and exons IIC and IXA in contralateral DRGs, while CFA did not affect contralateral DRG expression.
Conclusions:
- Exon I plays a significant role in the upregulation of BDNF expression in ipsilateral DRGs, irrespective of the pain stimulus (nerve injury or inflammation).
- The findings highlight the differential regulation of BDNF transcripts in response to distinct pain models.
- Specific BDNF transcripts show distinct expression patterns in ipsilateral versus contralateral DRGs.
