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🔬 Biology  ·  Neural Control and Coordination  ·  NEET

BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) promotes neuronal survival and LTP by:

  • A Blocking glutamate receptors largely, thereby reducing overall excitatory synaptic transmission activity as generally observed in typical laboratory settings
  • B Activating TrkB receptors, stimulating MAPK and PI3K signaling, promoting survival gene expression, and modulating synaptic protein synthesis
  • C Blocking apoptosis through a single, narrowly defined caspase-dependent signaling pathway mainly under usual circumstances according to most researchers
  • D Inactivating synapses that are determined to be no longer needed within current neural circuit pathways in the majority of cases studied

Correct answer: B. Activating TrkB receptors, stimulating MAPK and PI3K signaling, promoting survival gene expression, and modulating synaptic protein synthesis

Explanation: BDNF activates TrkB receptor tyrosine kinase. Downstream: MAPK (growth/differentiation), PI3K-Akt (survival, translation), PLCgamma (Ca2+, CREB). Critical for LTP and memory consolidation.

Concept context

Brain, spinal cord, neurons, reflex arcs, and sense organs.

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