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BDNF gene expression is reduced in the frontal cortex of dopamine transporter knockout mice

Molecular Psychiatry volume 8, pages 898–899 (2003)Cite this article

SIR – Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin important for neuronal development and synaptic plasticity.1 However, it has also been recently implicated in the etiology and treatment of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia.2

Indeed, neurodevelopmental theories of schizophrenia postulate that defects associated with the disease originate from abnormalities in brain development,2 a process that is highly dependent on neurotrophic factors. Nevertheless, an imbalance in the homeostasis of the dopaminergic system is still considered central to the disease: defects in dopaminergic neurotransmission may represent a consequence of developmental events, but may also produce abnormalities in brain maturation. Since the dopamine transporter (DAT) is an important player in regulating dopaminergic neurotransmission, mice lacking DAT, as obtained by homologous recombination,3 display several physiological changes culminating in a persistently activated dopaminergic tone, and may represent a useful model to investigate the molecular consequences of hyperdopaminergia.4

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Center of Neuropharmacology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    F Fumagalli, G Racagni, E Colombo & M A Riva

  2. Centre of Excellence on Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    F Fumagalli, G Racagni, E Colombo & M A Riva

  3. I.R.C.C.S. San Giovanni di Dio-Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy

    G Racagni

Authors
  1. F Fumagalli
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  2. G Racagni
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  3. E Colombo
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  4. M A Riva
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M A Riva.

Additional information

Supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR grant # G002882 to FF) and by Narsad Young Investigator Award to MAR.

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Fumagalli, F., Racagni, G., Colombo, E. et al. BDNF gene expression is reduced in the frontal cortex of dopamine transporter knockout mice. Mol Psychiatry 8, 898–899 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.mp.4001370

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