Kesslak J P, So V, Choi J, Cotman C W, Gomez-Pinilla F
Institute for Brain Aging and Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine 92697-4540, USA.
Behav Neurosci. 1998 Aug;112(4):1012-9. doi: 10.1037//0735-7044.112.4.1012.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes neuron survival, enhances sprouting, protects neurons against insult, and may be involved in several aspects of learning and memory. In this study, rats trained to locate a submerged platform in a water maze had elevated levels of BDNF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in the hippocampus (p < .05), a structure associated with spatial memory. BDNF mRNA expression increased after 3 and 6 days but not after 1 day of training in the water maze. A yoked control group that swam without the platform present, to control for physical activity, showed a trend for elevated BDNF mRNA at an intermediate level between the learning and sedentary groups. Other cortical and subcortical areas did not show a significant increase in BDNF mRNA after learning or activity (p > .05). These findings suggest that learning can impact BDNF mRNA expression localized to the brain areas involved in the processing of spatial information. Furthermore, behaviors such as physical activity and learning may help maintain and protect neurons at risk in aging and neurodegenerative disease via increased BDNF expression.
脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）可促进神经元存活、增强轴突发芽、保护神经元免受损伤，并且可能参与学习和记忆的多个方面。在本研究中，经过训练在水迷宫中定位水下平台的大鼠海马体中脑源性神经营养因子信使核糖核酸（mRNA）水平升高（p <.05），海马体是一个与空间记忆相关的结构。在水迷宫训练3天和6天后，BDNF mRNA表达增加，但训练1天后未增加。为控制身体活动而设置的无平台游泳的配对对照组显示，其BDNF mRNA水平升高的趋势处于学习组和久坐组之间的中间水平。学习或活动后，其他皮质和皮质下区域的BDNF mRNA未显示出显著增加（p >.05）。这些发现表明，学习可以影响定位于参与空间信息处理的脑区的BDNF mRNA表达。此外，诸如身体活动和学习等行为可能通过增加BDNF表达来帮助维持和保护处于衰老和神经退行性疾病风险中的神经元。
