Roles of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the regulation of blood pressure

Funded Activity Summary

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an extraordinary neurotrophin which acts not only as a classical neurotrophic factor to promote neuronal survival and differentiation but also as a neuromodulator to modulate nerve activity. Recently, we found that injection of exogenous BDNF into brain stem triggers a significant increase in blood pressure. The present proposal is to test the hypothesis that BDNF is a physiological neuromodulator regulating blood pressure. The aim of this study is to analyse physiological roles of BDNF in the brains stem and spinal cord in the regulation of nerve activity and blood pressure. The successful execution of the project will significantly enhance our understanding of how blood pressure is controlled by BDNF and nerve activity. The knowledge from this study will form basis for designing new drugs to control high blood pressure.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2003

End Date: 01-01-2005

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $299,625.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Medical infection agents (incl. prions)

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

brain stem | brain-derived neurotrophic factor | cardiovascular diseases | hypertension | neurological diseases | neurotransmission | neurotrophins | sympathetic nerve

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