Sex and stress hormone influences on the expression and activity of brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Abstract

The neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is recognized as a key component in the regulation of central nervous system ontogeny, homeostasis and adult neuroplasticity. The importance of BDNF in central nervous system development and function is well documented by numerous reports from animal studies linking abnormal BDNF signaling to metabolic disturbances and anxiety or depressive-like behavior. Despite the diverse roles for BDNF in nearly all aspects of central nervous system physiology, the regulation of BDNF expression, as well as our understanding of the signaling mechanisms associated with this neurotrophin, remains incomplete. However, links between sex hormones such as estradiol and testosterone, as well as endogenous and synthetic glucocorticoids, have emerged as important mediators of BDNF expression and function. Examples of such regulation include brain region-specific induction of Bdnf mRNA in response to estradiol. Additional studies have also documented regulation of the expression of the high-affinity BDNF receptor TrkB by estradiol, thus implicating sex steroids not only in the regulation of BDNF expression, but on mechanisms of signaling associated with it. In addition to gonadal steroids, further evidence also suggests functional interaction between BDNF and glucocorticoids, such as in the regulation of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and other important neuropeptides. In this review, we provide an overview of the roles played by selected sex or stress hormones in the regulation of BDNF expression and signaling in the central nervous system

Regulation of TRH neurons and energy homeostasis-related signals under stress

“…Low levels of immunoreactive TRH are also detected in the fibers of the LH (Carbone et al 2012b). This treatment blunts stress-induced Bdnf expression in male rats or HFD-induced increases in females (Carbone & Handa 2013).…”

Preliminary study of anxiety symptoms, family dysfunction, and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met genotype in offspring of parents with bipolar disorder

“…Animal studies have also shown that early life traumas can affect the epigenetic regulation of BDNF genes such as downregulation of BDNF mRNA and protein levels in the hippocampus CA1 subregion (Bazak et al, 2009) and altered BDNF DNA methylation (Roth et al, 2009). Such stressors have been found to cause reduced expression of BDNF, which is mediated by stress-related hormones such as catecholamines and glucocorticoids (Carbone and Handa, 2013;Duman, 2002;Hartmann et al, 2001;Rasmusson et al, 2002).…”

Do Environmental Factors (Practice and Feedback) Moderate the Effect of the Val66met BDNF Polymorphism on Motor Learning?

“…For a closer look, the groups were homogenized by participant sport history and Body Mass Index (BMI). Moreover, considering the possible effect of sex hormones on regulating the expression of BDNF 15,16 , just men and bachelors were selected.…”