Brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, in the central nervous system of Cichlasoma dimerus (Teleostei, Perciformes).

VISSIO, PAULA; CÁNEPA, MAXIMILIANO; CARPANO, MARINA; MAGGESE, MARÍA CRISTINA

Pinamar, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Congreso; XX Reunión Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Neuroquímica; 2005

SAN, SAIB; PABMB

Brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, in the central nervous system of Cichlasoma dimerus (Teleostei, Perciformes) Vissio, P.G., Cánepa, M., Carpano, M. & Maggese, M.C. Laboratorio de Embriología Animal, DBBE, FCEyN, UBA. Ciudad Universitaria,  (1429), Buenos Aires. Argentina. Mail: paulav@bg.fcen.uba.ar Brain derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, is a member of the neurotrophin family. In teleosts, BDNF was detected in retina, neuromasts and olfatory epithelium but at the moment, there is not available information about the distribution of BDNF in teleosts nervous system. By immunohystochemistry we found BDNF expression in the central nervous system of C. dimerus along the optic nerve, retina, pineal, intermediate lobe, optic tectum, hypothalamus and neurohypohysis. These areas are related with photoreception and environment adaptation. Specificity of the antibody was confirmed by Western blot, obtaining a single band of 39 kDa similar to the previously reported molecular weight in other species. In C. dimerus BDNF was detected both in cytoplasm as well as in nuclei. Immunoblot analysis of subcellular fractions (nuclear and cytoplasmatic) confirmed the nuclear localization. The BDNF role in the mature teleost nervous system is still poorly understood. In C. dimerus the distribution of BDNF suggests that it may be involved in background adaptation. On the other hand nuclear localization has been reported for other neurotrophins and growth factors but not for BDNF. In the nucleus, the function of BDNF is still not clear, but as well as in other species BDNF may autorregulate its own expression in C. dimerus.