目的:探讨细胞外信号调节激酶(ERK)通路在可卡因-苯丙胺调节转录肽(CART)上调大鼠海马神经元脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)表达中的作用。方法:取18 d的SD大鼠胚胎(E18),分离海马神经元,体外原代培养7 d,以不同剂量CART处理细胞,用Western blotting方法分别检测不同处理时点p-ERK表达.再以ERK通路特异性阻断剂PD98059(25 μmol/L)预处理细胞,进一步观察CART对p-ERK表达及BDNF合成的影响。结果:同对照组比较,CART处理组海马神经元p-ERK表达明显增高(P<0.01),BDNF合成增加.PD98059能阻断内源性ERK磷酸化、也能阻断CART诱导的ERK磷酸化,同时抑制CRAT引起的BDNF合成。结论:CART通过激活ERK促进海马神经元BDNF的合成,从而发挥神经营养作用。
AIM: To study the role of extracellular signal regulated kinase(ERK) pathway in cocaine -and amphetamineregulated transcript(CART) induced brain- derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) synthesis in primary cultured hippocampal neurons. METHODS: The primary cultures of hippocampal neurons were established from embryonic rats ( day 18 of gestation). The neurons were treated with CART at different doses ( 1, 10 and 100 nmol/L) and at different time points. The expression of phosphorylated ERK ( p - ERK) and BDNF were analyzed by Western blotting with or without PD98059, an ERK pathway inhibitor, treatment. RESULTS: CART increased expression of prolonged phosphorylated ERK in a time- and dose -dependent manner as compared with the controls(P〈0.01 ), and also increased expression of BDNF, which was inhibited by PD98059 pretreatment. CONCLUSION: BDNF synthesis induced by CART is mediated through ERK activation in hippocampal neurons.