Brain derived neurotrophic factor induces a rapid upregulation of synaptophysin and tau proteins via the neurotrophin receptor TrkB in rat cerebellar granule cells

: Coffey ET, Akerman KEO, Courtney MJ

Publisher: ELSEVIER SCI IRELAND LTD

: 1997

: Neuroscience Letters

: NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS

: NEUROSCI LETT

: 227

: 3

: 177

: 180

: 4

: 0304-3940

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-3940(97)00335-2

We have examined the effects of neurotrophins brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) on the expression of the maturation-specific proteins synaptophysin end tau, and the growth-associated protein (GAP)-43 in cerebellar granule cells. We find that BDNF but not NGF rapidly (within 2 h) upregulates levels of synaptophysin, tau and c-Fos correlating with expression of the neurotrophin receptor TrkB. The rapid increase in synaptophysin is not preceded by c-Fos elevation suggesting a post-transcriptional mechanism may be involved. In contrast, no upregulation of GAP-43 levels are seen within this time period. Phorbol ester mimics the effects of BDNF, indicating that protein kinase C (PKC) is either a component of, or feeds into the signalling mechanism. We conclude that BDNF, characterized to be survival promoting early in differentiation of cerebellar granule cells, enhances maturation at a later stage. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.