Kainic acid, tetrodotoxin and light modulate expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in developing avian retinal ganglion cells and their tectal target

• Published in: Neuroscience 1998-03, Vol.83 (1), p.137-150
• Main Authors: Karlsson, M., Hallböös, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - biosynthesis; Chick Embryo; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists - pharmacology; Eye and associated structures. Visual pathways and centers. Vision; Fluorescent Dyes; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; gene regulation; In Situ Hybridization; innervation; Kainic Acid - pharmacology; Light; neurotrophin; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases - biosynthesis; Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor - biosynthesis; Retinal Ganglion Cells - drug effects; Retinal Ganglion Cells - metabolism; Retinal Ganglion Cells - radiation effects; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Stilbamidines; Superior Colliculi - drug effects; Superior Colliculi - metabolism; Superior Colliculi - radiation effects; Tetrodotoxin - pharmacology; tracing; trk receptor; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0306-4522; 1873-7544; 1873-7544
• DOI: 10.1016/S0306-4522(97)00340-0

Increasing evidence underlies the importance of neurotrophins as neuron-derived trophic signals in the developing visual system, although their precise roles are still undefined. Here we show that brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA is simultaneously expressed in a subpopulation of retinal ganglion cells and in their target during late embryogenesis. Moreover, light as well as the excitotoxin; kainic acid, induced an increase of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA, which could be blocked by the sodium-channel blocker; tetrodotoxin. Messenger RNA for trkB, a receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, was found in the retinal ganglion cells expressing brain-derived neurotrophic factor showing that certain retinal ganglion cells express messenger RNA both for brain-derived neurotrophic factor and trkB. Furthermore, trkB messenger RNA was found in tectum, in the same layers as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA. These findings suggest that brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression is regulated in an activity-dependent manner during the phase of development when neuronal activity plays an important role.