Inhibitory synaptic plasticity and neurotrophins

Abstract

Synaptic plasticity represents the capacity of individual synapses to adjust their strength in response to modifications in the level or pattern of intrinsic or sensory-driven activity. Due to the involvement of the inhibitory transmitter GABA in brain development, synaptic function and cognition, interest in GABAergic synaptic plasticity has intensified in recent years. Neurotrophins are a family of secreted proteins that promote survival, growth and differentiation of neurons in the central nervous system. Recent advances show that besides this trophic function, neurotrophins, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in particular, can exert both short-term and long-term modulations on the strength and development of GABAergic synaptic transmission. In this review, we will summarize recent findings showing that BDNF can operate as a locally released feedback modulator of GABAergic synaptic transmission.