Immobilization Stress Induces BDNF in Rat Submandibular Glands

• Published in: Journal of dental research Vol. 85; no. 9; pp. 844 - 848
• Main Authors: Tsukinoki, K., Saruta, J., Sasaguri, K., Miyoshi, Y., Jinbu, Y., Kusama, M., Sato, S., Watanabe, Y.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States SAGE Publications 01.09.2006; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Animals; Blotting, Western; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - biosynthesis; Dentistry; Immobilization - physiology; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, trkB - biosynthesis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - biosynthesis; Saliva - chemistry; Salivary Ducts - metabolism; Stress, Physiological - metabolism; Submandibular Gland - metabolism; Up-Regulation; stress; TrkB; brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); rat submandibular gland
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/154405910608500913

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promotes survival and differentiation of the cells of the central and peripheral nervous systems. BDNF has been identified in non-neural tissue, including the heart, lung, platelets, lymphocytes, and lacrimal glands. Immobilization stress modifies BDNF mRNA expression in some organs. The present study examines the effect of immobilization stress on BDNF, and its receptor TrkB, in male rat submandibular glands. Increased BDNF mRNA and protein expression were observed in duct cells as a result of immobilization stress, as demonstrated by real-time PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and analysis by microdissection. TrkB mRNA was not detected in salivary gland tissue, or oral or esophageal mucosa, by RT-PCR. Rat submandibular gland was thus identified as an organ which expresses BDNF. Furthermore, the results of this study suggest that increased salivary BDNF expression occurs following immobilization stress.