Premium
Effects of intermittent hypoxia on regulation of BDNF mRNA in the brainstem and spinal cord of MeCP2 mutants
Author(s) -
Jenkins Victoria K,
Balkowiec Agnieszka,
Bissonnette John M
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.1008.12
Subject(s) - intermittent hypoxia , mecp2 , spinal cord , brainstem , pons , brain derived neurotrophic factor , endocrinology , medicine , neurotrophic factors , biology , medulla , hypoxia (environmental) , anatomy , chemistry , neuroscience , gene , genetics , receptor , organic chemistry , oxygen , obstructive sleep apnea , phenotype
Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is necessary and sufficient for the expression of long‐term facilitation, a form of respiratory plasticity that is induced by intermittent hypoxia (IH). BDNF is a target gene for the transcription factor methyl‐CpG‐binding protein 2 (MeCP2), but its role in determining the regulation of BDNF transcripts after IH has not been determined. MeCP2 null and wild‐type male mice were exposed to three IH intervals (5 minutes of 21% O 2 , 5 minutes of 8% O 2 ) followed by a 60‐minute post‐hypoxia rest. The ventral half of cervical spinal cord segments 3‐5, pons, and medulla were dissected. RNA was extracted and BDNF levels were evaluated by quantitative RT‐PCR. The IH‐induced increase in expression of transcript 4 in medulla of MeCP2 null mutants exceeded that in wild‐type mice. This transcript trends upward in pons, but stays constant in cervical spinal cord. The results suggest that MeCP2 modulates BDNF expression during IH.