Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in tissue brain of healthy rats

Abstract

Up to the moment five proteins are known, structurally related that constitute the neurotrophin family that belong to
brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) that has influence on many types of neurons in the central nervous system, promoting
neuronal differentiation, growth, and survival. This protein is important in the neuroprotection, as well as in the mechanisms of
synaptic plasticity. In this work we evaluate the BDNF contents in cerebral tissue from normal rats due to the importance of this
factor in neuroplasticity phenomena, and the lack of normative data in the literature regarding the normal values of this protein
in hippocampus, cortex, and striatum. Wistar male rats weighing from 200 to 250 g were used as experimental animals (n = 20).
The samples were homogenized, and the BDNF concentration was measured using an immunoenzymatic system. There were
no significant differences in the BDNF concentrations between homologous areas in both cerebral hemispheres right and left
for the studied homologous areas, although a tendency to the decrease was evidenced in the left side concerning the right side
when was compared. The concentration in hippocampus was higher than the one detected in the striatum and cortex, while BDNF
concentration in the striatum and cortex did not show significant differences among them. This work allowed the established
reference values of BDNF, which will be very useful for the future studies that research on the potentialities and neuroplasticity
mechanisms, in the normal nervous system, as well as the recovery of lost functions.