Accumulation of BDNF in the dendrites: a link with epileptogenesis?

The dendritic targeting of mRNAs and their local protein synthesis are mechanisms that enable neurons to deliver proteins to specific postsynaptic sites. BDNF mRNA is one example of mRNA that accumulates in the dendrites in an activity-dependent manner. Epileptogenic stimuli, via NMDA receptor activation, can induce a dramatic accumulation of BDNF mRNA and protein in discrete dendritic laminae of hippocampal neurons in vivo, suggesting targeting to synapses that are active during seizures. Based on the synaptic effects of BDNF, i.e. potentiation of active excitatory synapses, we propose that this phenomenon may play a critical role in the cellular changes leading to epilepsy. In keeping with this idea, a human BDNF polimorfism leading to increased translatability of BDNF in the dendrites is associated with partial epilepsy. However, further studies era required to conclusively establish if indeed a causal relationship exists between the accumulation of BDNF in dendrites and epileptogenesis