Penicillin induced epileptiform activity and EEG spectrum analysis of BDNF heterozygous mice: an in vivo electrophysiological study.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) heterozygous mice (BDNF (+/-)) kindle slowly and have a higher seizure threshold. However, BDNF (+/-) mice exhibit reduced cortical inhibition and disrupted balance of excitation/inhibition synaptic transmission. We investigated penicillin-induced focal cortical epileptiform activity and electroencephalogram (EEG) spectral power of BDNF (+/-) mice, by using electrocorticogram (ECoG) recordings. BDNF (+/-) mice (n=10) and wild type littermates (n=9) were anesthetized with i.p. urethane (1.750g/kg). The recordings of ECoG were carried out by using a data acquisition system and 100IU penicillin was administered intracortically to induce epileptiform act…
Reduced presynaptic efficiency of excitatory synaptic transmission impairs LTP in the visual cortex of BDNF-heterozygous mice
The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an important role in neuronal survival, axonal and dendritic growth and synapse formation. BDNF has also been reported to mediate visual cortex plasticity. Here we studied the cellular mechanisms of BDNF-mediated changes in synaptic plasticity, excitatory synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation (LTP) in the visual cortex of heterozygous BDNF-knockout mice (BDNF(+/-)). Patch-clamp recordings in slices showed an approximately 50% reduction in the frequency of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) compared to wild-type animals, in the absence of changes in mEPSC amplitudes. A presynaptic impairment of excita…
Neuronal Excitability And Spontaneous Synaptic Transmission In The Entorhinal Cortex Of Bdnf Heterozygous Mice
Abstract Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) is a neutrophic factor that is required for the normal neuronal development and function. BDNF is involved in regulation of synapses as well as neuronal excitability. Entorhinal Cortex (EC) is a key brain area involved in many physiological and pathological processes. In this study we investigated the effects of chronically reduced BDNF levels on layer 3 pyramidal neurons of EC. We aimed to assess the effects of reduced levels of BDNF on firing properties, spontaneous synaptic currents and excitation/inhibition balance from acute brain slices. Patch clamp recordings were obtained from pyramidal neurons of Entorhinal Cortex Layer 3. Findings o…