Figure 1 |.

The neuromodulatory effects of BDNF in the dorsal root ganglion, in relation to lower urinary tract function. BDNF expression is mediated by the NGF-dependent PI3K–Akt pathway. Expression of NMDA and AMPA receptors is regulated by the Ras–MAPK pathway, and modulated by BDNF–Trk-B signalling. Abbreviations: Akt, protein kinase B; AMPA, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid; BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor; ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MEK, MAPK/ERK kinase; NGF, nerve growth factor; NMDA, N-methyl-D-aspartate; PDK, phosphoinositide-dependent kinase; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; Ras, Ras small GTPase family proteins; Trk, tropomyosin-related kinase.