Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal development and function. However, it has been difficult to discern its role in the adult brain in influencing complex behavior. Here, we use a recently developed inducible knockout system to show that deleting BDNF in broad forebrain regions of adult mice impairs hippocampal-dependent learning and long-term potentiation. We use the inducible nature of this system to show that the loss of BDNF during earlier stages of development causes hyperactivity and more pronounced hippocampal-dependent learning deficits. We also demonstrate that the loss of forebrain BDNF attenuates the actions of desipramine, an antidepressant, in the forced swim test, suggesting the involvement of BDNF in antidepressant efficacy. These results establish roles for BDNF in the adult, and demonstrate the strength of this inducible knockout system in studying gene function in the adult brain.B rain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family of growth factors (1, 2). It is widely expressed in the mammalian brain (3) and regulates many aspects of neuronal function (4-8). However, a role for BDNF in regulating complex behavior has been difficult to assess, because of the lack of specific pharmacological agents and the early postnatal lethality of BDNF null (Ϫ͞Ϫ) mice (9). Studies examining heterozygous BDNF (ϩ͞Ϫ) mice, which display roughly half the normal levels of BDNF in brain, have reported increased feeding behavior, obesity, hyperactivity, and aggressiveness (10-12). However, these alterations may arise from developmental abnormalities and complicate the interpretation of the role of BDNF in the adult brain.The recent generation of conditional BDNF knockout (KO) mice circumvents the problem of postnatal lethality and allows for some regional specificity of gene deletion. For example, conditional BDNF KO mice survive to adulthood and exhibit a range of deficits similar to those seen in the heterozygous null mice (13). However, such conditional KO mice still suffer from the fact that they delete a gene of interest during late-embryonic or early postnatal periods and thus do not preclude developmental abnormalities as the cause of behavioral impairments observed. This is of a particular concern in studying complex behavior because early developmental periods in humans are crucial for the manifestation of many complex neuropsychiatric illnesses. To truly investigate the influence of BDNF on complex behavior in adults, it is necessary to have a system in which BDNF is deleted in an inducible manner in specific brain regions. We have generated an inducible KO system in which BDNF can be deleted selectively in the brain of adult mice. Here we describe the phenotype of mice in which BDNF has been deleted in broad forebrain regions of adult mice. We use the inducibility of the system to examine the phenotype of mice in which BDNF has been deleted at earlier stages of development in the same brain regions. Our results demonstrate that the role of BDNF in the ...

Single-minded 1 (Sim1) encodes a transcription factor essential for formation of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Sim1 haploinsufficiency is associated with hyperphagic obesity and increased linear growth in humans and mice, similar to the phenotype of melanocortin 4 receptor (Mc4r) mutations. PVN neurons in Sim1(+/-) mice are hyporesponsive to the melanocortin agonist melanotan II. PVN neuropeptides oxytocin (Oxt), TRH and CRH inhibit feeding when administered centrally. Consequently, we hypothesized that altered PVN neuropeptide expression mediates the hyperphagia of Sim1(+/-) mice. To test this hypothesis, we measured hypothalamic expression of PVN neuropeptides in Sim1(+/-) and wild-type mice. Oxt mRNA and peptide were decreased by 80% in Sim1(+/-) mice, whereas TRH, CRH, arginine vasopressin (Avp), and somatostatin mRNAs were decreased by 20-40%. Sim1(+/-) mice also showed abnormal regulation of Oxt but not CRH mRNA in response to feeding state. A selective Mc4r agonist activated PVN Oxt neurons in wild-type mice, supporting involvement of these neurons in melanocortin feeding circuits. To test whether Oxt itself regulates feeding, we measured the effects of central administration of an Oxt receptor antagonist or repeated doses of Oxt on food intake of Sim1(+/-) and wild-type mice. Sim1(+/-) mice were hypersensitive to the orexigenic effect of the Oxt receptor antagonist. Oxt decreased the food intake and weight gain of Sim1(+/-) mice at a dose that did not affect wild-type mice. Our results support the importance of Oxt neurons in feeding regulation and suggest that reduced Oxt neuropeptide is one mechanism mediating the hyperphagic obesity of Sim1(+/-) mice.

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