Increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in cultures of nervous cells treated with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

Introduction. The effects of antidepressants such as fluoxetine on brain plasticity are associated with increased transcription and signaling of trophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which enhances synaptic and neurogenic processes. Objective. To evaluate whether treatment with fluoxetine could increase BDNF levels in retinal cells. Method. To conduct the experiment, retinas were dissected from neonatal rats and cultured in complete culture medium. Next, the cultures designated for the experimental group were treated with 1µM of fluoxetine and maintained for 2, 12, 24, 48, or 72 hours in vitro. The cultures designated for the control group underwent the same protocol, but did not receive the fluoxetine treatment. The levels of BDNF were determined by Western blot analysis, and the data were analyzed by Student's t-test to compare the two groups (control and experimental). Results. The results showed that cultures treated with fluoxetine for 12, 24, and 48 hours had significantly higher levels of BDNF than the control group. Conclusion. The findings suggest that treatment with fluoxetine may have potential therapeutic effects on retinal cells by increasing BDNF levels. This adds to the existing evidence on the role of BDNF in mediating the therapeutic effects of antidepressants and highlights the potential for further research on the use of antidepressants in the treatment of retinal diseases.