Role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in hypoxia-induced fetal cortical neurons

Objectives To observe the role of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hypoxia induced cortical neurons to provide new laboratory evidence for further application of BDNF in clinical practice. Methods The survival rates of cultural fetal cortical neurons were tested and the influence of adding BDNF to the culture medium on survival rates was observed though trypanblue dye; the activity of the cortical neurons was detected using MTT. Results We observed that BDNF could protect the cortical neurons from hypoxia induced neurotoxicity by preincubating the neurons before 24 hours with BDNF and adding BDNF to the cultured neurons just before exposing them to hypoxic cultural environment.The survival rate of the cortical neurons was significantly reduced after exposing to hypoxia environment, while pre incubation of the cortical neurons with BDNF before 24hr and just before exposing to hypoxia showed much higher survival rates than that of the control group in terms of preventing hypoxia neurotoxicity. So this protection was time dependent.Conclusions In vitro, BDNF plays an important role in preventing cortical neurons from hypoxia induced neurotoxicity.