Spotlight on BDNF antibodies
Neuroscience antibodies are used to study diseases of the central nervous system such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and bipolar depression. We at Novus Biologicals have a large antibody database devoted to neuroscience research, with new antibody targets being added all the time. Recently, we added two new BDNF antibodies to our antibody catalog.
BDNF, short for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, is closely related to the NGF (nerve growth factor) proteins, a group of proteins important to the development, differentiation and division of neurons in sympathetic and embryonic nervous systems.
BDNF is crucial to the survival of neurons in or connected to the central nervous system (CNS), playing a key role in regulating transmission and strength of connection between synapses. Located throughout the adult CNS, it is a key regulator of neuronal excitability and suppression, thus controlling homeostasis. However, a BDNF polymorphism (a mutation leading to a genetic variant in 1% or more of a population) can lead to a number of clinical conditions, including hypoglycemia, ischemia and seizures. These in turn may contribute to illnesses like depression, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy and, in some cases, Alzheimer’s disease.
Mouse models are often used when studying genetic changes in behavior, but it’s not certain how such models compare to human behaviour. Earlier this year, Soliman et al employed a BDNF antibody to see if a genetic variant of the protein caused parallel mouse and human behavioral effects. A single nucleotide polymorphism was identified that was common to both species. Creation of a mouse strain exhibiting this phenotype revealed that murine behavioral changes were comparable to those seen in humans who carried the allele. This suggested the mouse would be a useful model for studying BDNF changes in humans.
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