Maternal supply of BDNF to mouse fetal brain through the placenta
Ikuko Kodomari1, Etsuko Wada, Shun Nakamura
1Department of Degenerative Neurological Diseases, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawahigashi, Kodaira, Tokyo 187-8502, Japan.
Gastrointestinal peptides and hormones are known to penetrate through the utero-placental barrier and regulate fetal development. In the present study, we tested permeation of maternal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to fetuses, using BDNF-gene deficient mice and exogenous BDNF administration. At embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5)-14.5, BDNF protein concentrations in the fetal brain of BDNF homozygous null mutant (bdnf (-/-)) were comparable to the levels seen in wild-type fetuses. After E17.5, BDNF protein levels in bdnf (-/-) fetal brain were still detectable but its levels were significantly decreased below those in wild-type brain. When recombinant BDNF protein was injected into pregnant wild-type mice carrying E14.5 embryos, BDNF protein levels in fetal brain were elevated dose-dependently. These findings suggest that maternal BDNF reaches the fetal brain through utero-placental barrier and might contribute to its development.
Gastrointestinal peptides and hormones are known to penetrate through the utero-placental barrier and regulate fetal development. In the present study, we tested permeation of maternal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to fetuses, using BDNF-gene deficient mice and exogenous BDNF administration. At embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5)-14.5, BDNF protein concentrations in the fetal brain of BDNF homozygous null mutant (bdnf (-/-)) were comparable to the levels seen in wild-type fetuses. After E17.5, BDNF protein levels in bdnf (-/-) fetal brain were still detectable but its levels were significantly decreased below those in wild-type brain. When recombinant BDNF protein was injected into pregnant wild-type mice carrying E14.5 embryos, BDNF protein levels in fetal brain were elevated dose-dependently. These findings suggest that maternal BDNF reaches the fetal brain through utero-placental barrier and might contribute to its development.
