Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates glutamate receptors of the NMDA type in many areas of the brain. We assessed whether BDNF exerts an effect on NMDA receptor properties in retinal ganglion cells during early postnatal development. Electrophysiological responses to the glutamate agonist NMDA (500 microM-2 mM) in retinal slices of wildtype and BDNF deficient mice (bdnf-/-) were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Retinal ganglion cells of bdnf-/- mice displayed significantly smaller NMDA currents than those of age-matched wildtype mice. Remarkably, NMDA receptor activity was restored by incubating retinal slices of bdnf-/- mice in BDNF (50 ng/ml) for 1-3 h. We suggest that BDNF plays a role in the activation of functional NMDA receptors in early ganglion cell development.
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