Cited by 412Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchNerve injury and regenerationGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

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ERK1/2 Activation Is Necessary for BDNF to Increase Dendritic Spine Density in Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

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Alonso, Mariana, Medina, Jorge H., Pozzo-Miller, Lucas·2004·Learning & Memory

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a potent modulator of synaptic transmission and plasticity in the CNS, acting both pre- and postsynaptically. We demonstrated recently that BDNF/TrkB signaling increases dendritic spine density in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Here, we tested whether activation of the prominent ERK (MAPK) signaling pathway was responsible for BDNF's effects on spine growth. Slice cultures were transfected with enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (eYFP) by particle-mediated gene transfer, and CA1 pyramidal neurons were imaged by laser-scanning confocal microscopy. We confirmed that BDNF (24 h) increases spine density in apical dendrites of CA1 neurons. The MEK (ERK kinase) inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 completely prevented the increase in spine density induced by BDNF, without having an effect on spine density by themselves. In contrast to its actions on cortical pyramidal neurons, BDNF had minor and rather localized effects on dendritic complexity in hippocampal pyramidal neurons, increasing the total length, but not the branching of apical dendrites within CA1 stratum radiatum, without affecting basal dendrites in stratum oriens. Our results support the hypothesis that the ERK-signaling pathway not only mediates long-term synaptic plasticity and hippocampal-dependent learning, but it is also involved in the structural remodeling of excitatory spine synapses triggered by neurotrophins.

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  1. 2002, Cell. Mol. Neurobiol., 22, 647
  2. 2002, Nat. Neurosci., 11, 1177
  3. 2002, Neuroscience, 3, 795

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Metadata

Authors
Alonso, M., Medina, J. H., & Pozzo-Miller, L.
Affiliations
Universidad de Buenos Aires (AR)
Venue
Learning & Memory
Published
2004-03
Volume
11
Issue
2
Pages
172-178
ISSN
  • 1072-0502 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-5485
OpenAlex
W2138910339
Cited by
412
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 25
Type
posted content
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Learning & Memory (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Amgen
  • Wayne State University
  • Harvard University
  • National Institutes of Health (P30-HD38985, HD38985)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS040593, R01-NS40593)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (P30HD038985, P01HD038760, P30 HD38985, P01HD38760)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nerve injury and regeneration
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
ERK signaling, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, dendritic spine density, CA1 pyramidal neurons, MEK inhibitors, PD98059, U0126, neurotrophins, synaptic plasticity, dendritic complexity, TrkB signaling
MeSH terms
Animals, Enzyme Activation, Hippocampus, Neuronal Plasticity, Organ Culture Techniques, Signal Transduction, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Pyramidal Cells, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3, Dendritic Spines, Rats

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