2008/02/08 by Pedro Bekinschtein, Martı́n Cammarota, Cynthia Katche +5 · 1 citation
Neuroscience · #Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research #Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms #Nerve injury and regeneration
paper · pdf · doi:10.1073/pnas.0711863105
openalex publication_date 2008/02/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/18
Persistence is a characteristic attribute of long-term memories (LTMs). However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that mediate this process. We recently showed that persistence of LTM requires a late protein synthesis- and BDNF-dependent phase in the hippocampus. Here, we show that intrahippocampal delivery of BDNF reverses the deficit in memory persistence caused by inhibition of hippocampal protein synthesis. Importantly, we demonstrate that BDNF induces memory persistence by itself, transforming a nonlasting LTM trace into a persistent one in an ERK-dependent manner. Thus, BDNF is not only necessary, but sufficient to induce a late postacquisition phase in the hippocampus essential for persistence of LTM storage.