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. 2002 Mar 1;22(5):1532–1540. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.22-05-01532.2002

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3.

BDNF-LTP is coupled to enhanced ERK phosphorylation in the dentate gyrus. Western blot assays of phosphorylated, active ERK (p-ERK1/2) were run on aliquoted samples from microdissected dentate gyrus (DG) and hippocampal regions CA1 and CA3 after in vivo electrophysiological experiments. a, Group mean + SEM changes in p-ERK2 immunoreactivity levels based on densitometric analysis. Optical density values are expressed as a ratio between the treated and nontreated (control) side for each hippocampal subfield. BDNF infusion increased activation of ERK2 at 15 min (n = 8) and 3 hr (n = 7) in the infused dentate gyrus. BDNF had no effect on ERK2 phosphorylation in hippocampal region CA1 or CA3. Delivery of the MEK inhibitor U0126 abolished the increase in ERK2 phosphorylation at both 15 min and 3 hr. n = 4 at both time points. Cytochrome c (Cyt C) infusion had no effect on p-ERK2 immunoreactivity levels. *p < 0.05, significant difference from control.b, Representative p-ERK immunoblots for the group data shown in a. Total ERK2 protein levels were unchanged.c, Bar graph of the fEPSP slope changes obtained at 15 min and 3 hr after infusion. *p < 0.05, significant difference from baseline.