Mouse / Human BDNF Protein

BDNF is a member of the nerve growth factor family. It is highly
expressed in hippocampus, amygdala, cerebral cortex and cerebellum. It
also can be detected in heart, lung, skeletal muscle, testis, prostate and
placenta. BDNF is induced by cortical neurons, and is necessary for
survival of striatal neurons in the brain. During development, BDNF
promotes the survival and differentiation of selected neuronal populations
of the peripheral and central nervous systems. It participates in axonal
growth, pathfinding and in the modulation of dendritic growth and
morphology. It functions as the major regulator of synaptic transmission
and plasticity at adult synapses in many regions of the CNS. The
versatility of BDNF is emphasized by its contribution to a range of
adaptive neuronal responses including long-term potentiation (LTP), longterm
depression (LTD), certain forms of short-term synaptic plasticity, as
well as homeostatic regulation of intrinsic neuronal excitability