Involvement of VIP on BDNF-induced somatostatin gene expression in cultured fetal rat cerebral cortical cells

Abstract Previous studies have shown that BDNF promotes expression of SS. In earlier studies we demonstrated the stimulatory effect of locally produced VIP upon SS secretion. These facts led us to explore the peptidergic action of BDNF on VIP, and to determine if BDNF-induced SS might be mediated by the induction of VIP. Cultured fetal rat cerebralcortical cells were incubated with BDNF (50 ng/ml) and/or VIP (10 −11 M) for 2 and 5 days. In other experiments IgGs from BDNF or VIP antisera were also added. BDNF increased VIP and SS gene expression and peptide production. After 2 days of incubation with both BDNF and VIP the induction of SS mRNA was similar to that obtained with BDNF alone. However when the treatment was extended to 5 days the increase in SS mRNA was higher than that obtained with BDNF alone. This finding suggests the possibility that both factors acted synergistically. To define the potential role of VIP in the response of SS gene expression to BDNF, endogenous VIP was blocked with IgGs from VIP antiserum. Under these experimental conditions BDNF-induced SS decreased. Our study provides the first evidence that BDNF up-regulates VIP gene expression and concentration of the peptide. The involvement of VIP on BDNF-induced SS gene expression is also demonstrated.