THE EFFECT OF SKELETAL MUSCLE-SYNTHESIZED BDNF ON MOTOR NEURON SOMA SIZE AND BDNF PROTEIN ABUNDANCE

<p>Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin essential to neuron health and maintenance in both the central nervous system and periphery. It acts as a positive feedback system for the body’s motor neurons and the muscles they innervate, strengthening the synapse between them. Skeletal muscle-synthesized BDNF transmission occurs across the neuromuscular junction, the site where motor neuron axons synapse with muscle fibers. BDNF transmission to tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) at the motor neuron axon terminal causes clathrin mediated endocytosis of the complex and an intracellular signaling cascade that recruits dynein motor proteins for retrograde transport of the BDNF/TrkB endosome to the motor neuron soma. At the motor neuron soma, the BDNF/TrkB complex activates cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate (cAMP) response element binding protein (CREB), leading to transcriptional changes that support neuron dendrite growth and survival. Using a skeletal muscle-synthesized BDNF deficient mouse model, this thesis aims to assess the effects of skeletal muscle-synthesized BDNF on the expression of BDNF within the motor neuron soma, and soma size, using a combination of in situ hybridization and immunostaining techniques. Results indicate that despite BDNF’s known trophic effects, muscle-synthesized BDNF does not appear to have an effect on neuronal BDNF protein production or overall soma size at 120d of age which suggests that innervating neurons are able to compensate for the loss of muscle-synthesized BDNF in our model.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2025

Author dc:creator

• Benson, Sydney

Contributors dc:contributor

• Danny LeBert

• BDNF
• TrkB
• neurotrophin
• neurophysiology
• motor neuron
• neuromuscular
• signaling endosome
• CREB
• soma

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/899

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1955