Disruption Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Production From Promoter I Causes Social Behavioral Deficits

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) modulates neuronal plasticity and cognition. The BDNF gene is composed of nine distinct promoters that drive production of ~20 splice variants that encode the same BDNF protein. In mice, disrupting BDNF production from promoters I or II, but not promoters IV or VI, enhances intermale aggression. Here, we investigated how loss of BDNF from promoter I affects other social behavioral phenotypes.