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Hippocampal epigenetic modification at the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor gene induced by an enriched environment
Author(s) -
Kuzumaki Naoko,
Ikegami Daigo,
Tamura Rie,
Hareyama Nana,
Imai Satoshi,
Narita Michiko,
Torigoe Kazuhiro,
Niikura Keiichi,
Takeshima Hideyuki,
Ando Takayuki,
Igarashi Katsuhide,
Kanno Jun,
Ushijima Toshikazu,
Suzuki Tsutomu,
Narita Minoru
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
hippocampus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.767
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1098-1063
pISSN - 1050-9631
DOI - 10.1002/hipo.20775
Subject(s) - neurotrophic factors , brain derived neurotrophic factor , histone h3 , hippocampus , environmental enrichment , epigenetics , neurogenesis , hippocampal formation , biology , histone methylation , neurotrophin , chemistry , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , gene expression , dna methylation , biochemistry , gene , receptor
Environmental enrichment is an experimental paradigm that increases brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression accompanied by neurogenesis in the hippocampus of rodents. In the present study, we investigated whether an enriched environment could cause epigenetic modification at the BDNF gene in the hippocampus of mice. Exposure to an enriched environment for 3–4 weeks caused a dramatic increase in the mRNA expression of BDNF, but not platelet‐derived growth factor A (PDGF‐A), PDGF‐B, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nerve growth factor (NGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), or glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in the hippocampus of mice. Under these conditions, exposure to an enriched environment induced a significant increase in histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) trimethylation at the BDNF P3 and P6 promoters, in contrast to significant decreases in histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) trimethylation at the BDNF P4 promoter and histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) trimethylation at the BDNF P3 and P4 promoters without any changes in the expression of their associated histone methylases and demethylases in the hippocampus. The expression levels of several microRNAs in the hippocampus were not changed by an enriched environment. These results suggest that an enriched environment increases BDNF mRNA expression via sustained epigenetic modification in the mouse hippocampus. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc..