Differential regional expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor following olfactory fear learning

Seth V. Jones, Lisa Stanek-Rattiner, Michael Davis, Kerry J. Ressler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

We examined brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA expression across the olfactory system following fear conditioning. Mice received 10 pairings of odor with footshock or equivalent unpaired odors and shocks. We found increased BDNF mRNA in animals receiving paired footshocks in the multiple regions examined including the posterior piriform cortex (PPC) and basolateral amygdala (BLA). This was in contrast to the unpaired and odor-alone treatments, where BDNF mRNA was increased in the olfactory bulb (OB) and anterior piriform cortex (APC) only, but not the higher olfactory areas. We propose that odor exposure increases expression of BDNF in the OB and APC while the PPC and BLA increase BDNF mRNA only when associative learning occurs.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)816-820
Number of pages5
JournalLearning and Memory
Volume14
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2007

Funding

FundersFunder number
National Institute on Drug AbuseR01DA019624

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
    • Cognitive Neuroscience
    • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Differential regional expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor following olfactory fear learning'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this