Differential effects of neonatal maternal separation on the expression of neurotrophic factors in rat brain. II: Regional differences in the cerebellum versus the cerebral cortex.

This study was conducted in order to examine the effects of early postnatal maternal separation stress on the age-dependent fluctuations in the expression levels of neurotrophic factor ligands and receptors in the developing cerebellum. Wistar rats were separated from their mothers for 3 h each day during postnatal days (PND) 10 to 15. The expression level of mRNA for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and type-1 IGF receptor (IGF-1R) were evaluated in the cerebellum on PND16, 20, 30, and 60 with real-time RT-PCR. The mRNA levels of cerebellar BDNF in maternally separated rats were increased on PND16, while the other variables showed no significant alterations at any of the time points examined. However, the effects of an identical maternal separation on the cerebral cortex were previously reported to be completely different. These results indicate regional differences in the responses of neurotrophic factor ligands/receptors between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex. Given that neurotrophic factors play important roles in brain development, alterations in these factors may interrupt normal brain development and ultimately, lead to functional disruptions.