A role for BDNF in mechanosensation

• DOI: 10.1038/242
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T08:47:57Z
• Authors: Patrick Carroll; Gary R. Lewin; Martin Koltzenburg; Klaus V. Toyka; Hans Thoenen
• Keywords: Mice, Knockout; 0301 basic medicine; Time Factors; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Sensation; Adaptation, Physiological; Axons; Recombinant Proteins; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Animals; Neurons, Afferent; Mechanoreceptors; Cellular Senescence; Myelin Sheath; Skin

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a survival factor for certain sensory neurons during development. Using electrophysiology in BDNF-deficient mice, we show here that slowly adapting mechanoreceptors (SAM), but not other types of cutaneous afferents, require BDNF in postnatal life for normal mechanotransduction. Neurons lacking BDNF did not die, but instead showed a profound and specific reduction in their mechanical sensitivity, which was quantitatively the same in BDNF -/- and BDNF +/- animals. Postnatal treatment of BDNF +/- mice with recombinant BDNF completely rescued the mechanosensitivity deficit. Therefore BDNF is important for regulating SAM mechanosensitivity, independent of any survival-promoting function.