A role for MAPK and PI-3K signaling pathways in brain-derived neurotrophic factor modification of conditioned taste aversion retention

Behav Brain Res. 2011 Feb 2;217(1):248-52. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2010.10.013. Epub 2010 Oct 23.

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has emerged as an important molecular mediator of synaptic plasticity. Our previous studies on the insular cortex (IC), a region of the temporal cortex implicated in the acquisition and storage of conditioned taste aversion (CTA), have demonstrated that the intracortical microinfusion of BDNF induces a lasting potentiation of synaptic efficacy in the projection from the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (Bla) to the IC of adult rats in vivo. Recently, we have found that intracortical microinfusion of BDNF previous to CTA training modifies the retention of this task. In this work, we present experimental data showing that BDNF effects on CTA retention are dependent on both the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K) at the insular cortex. Our results are evidence of the crucial role of both pathways in the modification of the CTA trace of memory caused by BDNF at a neocortical area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Avoidance Learning / drug effects
  • Avoidance Learning / physiology
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / administration & dosage
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology*
  • Conditioning, Classical / drug effects
  • Conditioning, Classical / physiology
  • Male
  • Microinjections
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Retention, Psychology / drug effects*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*
  • Taste
  • Temporal Lobe / drug effects
  • Temporal Lobe / metabolism*

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases