Brain-derived neurotrophic factor mediates an excitoprotective effect of dietary restriction in mice

Wenzhen Duan, Zhi Hong Guo, Mark P. Mattson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

146 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dietary restriction (DR; reduced calorie intake) increases the lifespan of rodents and increases their resistance to cancer, diabetes and other age-related diseases. DR also exerts beneficial effects on the brain including enhanced learning and memory and increased resistance of neurons to excitotoxic, oxidative and metabolic insults. The mechanisms underlying the effects of DR on neuronal plasticity and survival are unknown. In the present study we show that levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are significantly increased in the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and striatum of mice maintained on an alternate day feeding DR regimen compared to animals fed ad libitum. Damage to hippocampal neurons induced by the excitotoxin kainic acid was significantly reduced in mice maintained on DR, and this neuroprotective effect was attenuated by intraventricular administration of a BDNF-blocking antibody. Our findings show that simply reducing food intake results in increased levels of BDNF in brain cells, and suggest that the resulting activation of BDNF signaling pathways plays a key role in the neuroprotective effect of DR. These results bolster accumulating evidence that DR may be an effective approach for increasing the resistance of the brain to damage and enhancing brain neuronal plasticity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)619-626
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Neurochemistry
Volume76
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Apoptosis
  • Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
  • Caloric restriction
  • Cerebral cortex
  • Epileptic seizures
  • Glutamate

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

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