The BDNF prodomain is detected at high levels in vivo. (a) Detection of BDNF prodomain (15.5 kDa.) from mice hippocampus after glutaraldehyde fixation of the transfer membrane following SDS-PAGE. (b) The prodomain levels were reduced by half in Bdnf+/− mice hippocampal lysates, compared to wild type animals (WT). (c) Treatment of hippocampal lysates with N-glycanase (+Gly) reduced the molecular weight of the prodomain to 12.3 kDa. (d) BDNF prodomain levels at embryonic day 18 (E18), postnatal days 0 and 5 (P0 and P5), and 1, 2, 3 or 9 months (M) in hippocampal lystes of C57BL/6 mice. (e) Quantification of (d). Bars represent mean ± s.e.m. of prodomain densitometry data normalized to β tubulin. n=3 per group. (f) Comparison of BDNF prodomain levels from hippocampi of BdnfVal/Val and BdnfMet/Met mice at P0, P5, 1 and 2 month of age. (g) Quantification of (f). Bars represent mean ± s.e.m. of prodomain densitometry data normalized to β tubulin. n=4 per group. Statistical comparisons were made by one way analysis of variance test. * p < 0.05.