Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as a member of neurotrophin family, plays an important role in neurogenesis, neuronal survival and synaptic plasticity. BDNF is strongly expressed in the hippocampus, where has been associated with memory consolidation, learning, and cognition. In this study, Real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and stereology were used to evaluate the gender differences and left-right asymmetries in the expression of BDNF in the developing rat hippocampus during the neurogenesis-active period, at postnatal days P0, P7 and P14. We found the lowest expression of BDNF in the right side and the highest in the left side hippocampi of both male and female neonates at P14 (P ≤ 0.05 each). At the same time, there were significant differences in the hippocampal expression of BDNF between males and females (P ≤ 0.05 each). No important differences in the number of BDNF expressing neurons in different subregions of right/left hippocampus were observed between male and female animals at P0 and P7 (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the highest numerical density of BDNF positive cells was detected in the both sides hippocampal CA₁ in the male/female offspring at P7, and in the CA₂, CA₃ and dentate gyrus at P14 (P ≤ 0.05 each). Based on these findings, it can be concluded that there are prominent sex and interhemispheric differences in the expression of BDNF in the developing rat hippocampus, suggesting a probable mechanism for the control of gender and laterality differences in development, structure, and function of the hippocampus.

脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）作为神经营养因子家族的一员，在神经发生、神经元存活和突触可塑性中起重要作用。BDNF 在海马体中强烈表达，海马体与记忆巩固、学习和认知有关。本研究采用实时荧光定量 PCR、免疫组织化学和体视学方法评估神经发生活跃期、出生后 P0、P7 和 P14 发育期大鼠海马中 BDNF 表达的性别差异和左右不对称性。 . 我们发现在P14时男女新生儿BDNF的表达在右侧最低，在左侧海马最高（P 每个≤ 0.05）。同时，海马区BDNF的表达在男女之间存在显着差异（P均≤0.05）。在P0和P7时，雄性和雌性动物之间在左右海马不同亚区中表达BDNF的神经元数量没有显着差异（P  > 0.05）。此外，在P7时雄性/雌性后代的两侧海马CA ₁和P14时在CA ₂、CA ₃和齿状回中检测到BDNF阳性细胞的数量密度最高（P 每个≤ 0.05）。基于这些发现，可以得出结论，发育中的大鼠海马中BDNF的表达存在显着的性别差异和半球间差异，这表明可能存在控制海马发育、结构和功能的性别和侧向差异的机制。 .