Figure 5
hBDNFVal66Met genotype alters synaptic protein expression within the DHP and mPFC but not VHP. (a) Within the DHP, the expression of synaptophysin was labile to remodeling by chronic CORT as a function of hBDNFVal66Met genotype, where hBDNFVal/Val mice were selectively vulnerable to the long-term effect of CORT. (b) The expression of PSD-95 in the DHP was found to be dependent on hBDNFVal66Met genotype. hBDNFMet/Met mice had significantly higher PSD-95 expression, an excitatory post-synaptic marker and scaffolding protein, than hBDNFVal/Val mice. While an effect of CORT on the expression of PSD-95 in the DHP was also detected, which decreased the expression of this scaffolding protein, this effect was independent of genotype. (c) This effect of CORT was recapitulated for the expression of inhibitory terminal marker gephyrin. There were no significant differences in synaptic protein reorganization in the VHP (d-f) In the mPFC, there were no detectable alterations in the expression of synaptophysin (g) or gephyrin (i), however a subtle hBDNFVal66Met × chronic CORT treatment interaction emerged for the expression of PSD-95 which resulted in a selective decrease of this marker among the hBDNFVal/Val group as a consequence of CORT treatment (h). All data are presented as mean±SEM; *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001, and ****P<0.0001. Per group, n=13–14.
