Biphasic change in BDNF gene expression following antidepressant drug treatment explained by differential transcript regulation

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been suggested as a possible target for the treatment of depression. The effect by antidepressant drugs on BDNF mRNA expression is, however, strictly dependent on both treatment duration and time after the last administration. The rat BDNF gene itself is complex and expresses four different mRNA isoforms which can be regulated by different signaling cascades. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the previously shown biphasic action by the antidepressant drugs on total BDNF expression is explained by differential BDNF transcript regulation. For this purpose, we used in situ hybridization with exon-specific oligo nucleotides for exon V (total BDNF mRNA), exon I (protein synthesis-dependent transcripts), exon III and exon IV (immediate early-gene like-transcripts). Following an acute injection, all three drugs tested: fluoxetine, desipramine and TCP decreased total BDNF mRNA (exon V) as well as exon IV mRNA, while no significant effect was recorded for exons I and III mRNAs. In contrast chronic administration of all three drugs resulted in increased expression of exon V- and exon I-containing transcripts (fluoxetine and TCP only) but no significant changes were recorded for exon III and IV mRNAs. Electroconvulsive shock administration showed up-regulation of all four BDNF mRNAs following a single shock, but after repeated administration increases were restricted to exons I- and V-containing transcripts. In summary, this study shows clear evidence of differential BDNF transcript regulation following acute and chronic antidepressant drug treatment.