Endocrinology, Vol 136, 3743-3750, Copyright © 1995 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Stress increases brain-derived neurotropic factor messenger ribonucleic acid in the hypothalamus and pituitary

MA Smith, S Makino, SY Kim and R Kvetnansky
Biological Psychiatry Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

Brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) is a member of the nerve growth factor family that is important for neuronal survival and plasticity. We recently demonstrated that stress decreases BDNF messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the hippocampus, which raises the possibility that BDNF may play a role in regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether BDNF expression is present and influenced by stress in other brain areas relevant to control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Using in situ hybridization, we found that BDNF mRNA is present in the parvocellular portion of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), the lateral hypothalamus, and the anterior and neurointermediate lobes of the pituitary in rats. Acute (2-h) or repeated immobilization stress increased BDNF mRNA in all of these areas. This was in distinct contrast to stress-induced decreases in extrahypothalamic areas, including the basolateral amygdala, claustrum, and cingulate cortex as well as the hippocampus. BDNF was expressed in both CRF and TRH neurons in the PVN. Reducing glucocorticoid or thyroid negative feedback increased BDNF mRNA in the PVN and anterior pituitary, but not in the neurointermediate lobe. These results suggest that BDNF is a stress- responsive intercellular messenger that may be an important component of the stress response.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. Sachs-Ericsson, E. Corsentino, and J. R. Cougle Problems Meeting Basic Needs Predict Cognitive Decline in Community-Dwelling Hispanic Older Adults J Aging Health, September 1, 2009; 21(6): 848 - 863. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. E. Levin Neurotrophism and energy homeostasis: perfect together Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): R988 - R991. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Wang, E. Bomberg, C. Billington, A. Levine, and C. M. Kotz Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus reduces energy intake Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): R1003 - R1012. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-M. Rangon, S. Fortes, V. Lelievre, P. Leroux, F. Plaisant, C. Joubert, L. Lanfumey, C. Cohen-Salmon, and P. Gressens Chronic Mild Stress during Gestation Worsens Neonatal Brain Lesions in Mice J. Neurosci., July 11, 2007; 27(28): 7532 - 7540. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Hewitt and J. S. Bains Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Silences GABA Synapses Onto Hypothalamic Neuroendocrine Cells Through a Postsynaptic Dynamin-Mediated Mechanism J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2006; 95(4): 2193 - 2198. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Givalois, S. Arancibia, G. Alonso, and L. Tapia-Arancibia Expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Its Receptors in the Median Eminence Cells with Sensitivity to Stress Endocrinology, October 1, 2004; 145(10): 4737 - 4747. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. M. R. Kramer, P. M. J. M. Cruijsen, D. T. W. M. Ouwens, M. W. Coolen, G. J. M. Martens, E. W. Roubos, and B. G. Jenks Evidence that Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Acts as an Autocrine Factor on Pituitary Melanotrope Cells of Xenopus laevis Endocrinology, April 1, 2002; 143(4): 1337 - 1345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Schwartz Intercellular Communication in the Anterior Pituitary Endocr. Rev., October 1, 2000; 21(5): 488 - 513. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				F. Rage, B. Riteau, G. Alonso, and L. Tapia-Arancibia Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Neurotrophin-3 Enhance Somatostatin Gene Expression through a Likely Direct Effect on Hypothalamic Somatostatin Neurons Endocrinology, February 1, 1999; 140(2): 909 - 916. [Abstract] [Full Text]