Antenatal betamethasone produces protracted changes in anxiety-like behaviors and in the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the tyrosine kinase B receptor in the rat cerebellar cortex. Issue 43 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pascual, Rodrigo; Valencia, Martina; Bustamante, Carlos
• Is Part Of: International journal of developmental neuroscience. Issue 43(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 85
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Betamethasone -- MAP2 -- BDNF -- TrkB -- Cerebellar cortex -- Anxiety-like behavior; Developmental neurobiology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Neurologie du développement -- Périodiques; Developmental neurobiology; Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2015.04.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0736-5748

Abstract

Highlights: Prenatal betamethasone administration (BET) decrease the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of MAP2 and BDNF in the cerebellar molecular layer. BET increase the IHC expression of tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) receptor in the cerebellar molecular layer. BET is associated with anxiety-like behaviors. Abstract: Using classic Golgi staining methods, we previously showed that the administration of synthetic glucocorticoid betamethasone in equivalent doses to those given in cases of human premature birth generates long-term alterations in Purkinje cell dendritic development in the cerebellar cortex. In the present study, we evaluated whether betamethasone alters the immunohistochemical expression of proteins that participate in cerebellar Purkinje cell dendritic development and maintenance, including microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the tyrosine kinase B receptor (TrkB), which are located predominantly in the cerebellar molecular layer where Purkinje cell dendritogenesis occurs. Consistent with our previous Golgi stain studies, we observed that animals prenatally exposed to a single course of betamethasone showed long-term alterations in the expression of MAP2, BDNF and TrkB. Additionally, these protracted molecular changes were accompanied by anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and marble burying tests.