PMID- 12824273 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20030804 LR - 20190607 IS - 0146-0404 (Print) IS - 0146-0404 (Linking) VI - 44 IP - 7 DP - 2003 Jul TI - BDNF is upregulated by postnatal development and visual experience: quantitative and immunohistochemical analyses of BDNF in the rat retina. PG - 3211-8 AB - PURPOSE: This study sought to elucidate changes in the levels and distribution of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the retina throughout aging and depending on visual experience. METHODS: Protein and mRNA levels of BDNF were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), respectively. Levels were assayed in the retinas of rats on postnatal day (P)2, P7, and P14 (approximate time of eye opening) and at 1 month (M), 3M, 8M, and 18M of age. Changes in BDNF expression and localization in the retina were assessed by immunohistochemistry. The effect of monocular deprivation during infancy on retinal BDNF expression was also examined, by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Both protein and mRNA levels of BDNF in the rat retina increased after P14. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that the increase in BDNF protein levels occurred in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) between P14 and 1M. BDNF immunoreactivity in Muller cell processes was observed in the inner nuclear layer at 1M, but not at P14. The levels of BDNF protein in the retinas of visually deprived eyes were lower than those of control eyes, as quantified by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry showed that BDNF immunoreactivity in RGCs was diminished by visual deprivation, whereas Muller cells were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: These observations indicate that BDNF expression in RGCs is upregulated in an activity-dependent manner, whereas that in Muller cells is regulated only by development. FAU - Seki, Masaaki AU - Seki M AD - Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, and Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan. FAU - Nawa, Hiroyuki AU - Nawa H FAU - Fukuchi, Takeo AU - Fukuchi T FAU - Abe, Haruki AU - Abe H FAU - Takei, Nobuyuki AU - Takei N LA - eng PT - Journal Article PT - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't PL - United States TA - Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci JT - Investigative ophthalmology & visual science JID - 7703701 RN - 0 (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor) RN - 0 (RNA, Messenger) SB - IM MH - Aging/*physiology MH - Animals MH - Blotting, Western MH - Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/genetics/*metabolism MH - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay MH - Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect MH - Male MH - RNA, Messenger/metabolism MH - Rats MH - Rats, Wistar MH - Retina/*growth & development/*metabolism MH - Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction MH - Sensory Deprivation MH - Up-Regulation MH - Vision, Ocular/*physiology EDAT- 2003/06/26 05:00 MHDA- 2003/08/05 05:00 CRDT- 2003/06/26 05:00 PHST- 2003/06/26 05:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2003/08/05 05:00 [medline] PHST- 2003/06/26 05:00 [entrez] AID - 10.1167/iovs.02-1089 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2003 Jul;44(7):3211-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.02-1089.