Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key modulator of synaptic plasticity is predicted to locally control cortical receptive field maturation and memory with sensory experience. BDNF`s main function for the adult central nervous system performance starts with sensory experience when local cortical BDNF is assumed to regulate the excitability of cortical circuits (Hong et al., 2008), a process leading to enhanced cortical auditory resolution. In the auditory system BDNF become gradually upregulated in cochlear neurons or glial cells and the ascending auditory path between P4 and P14 (Singer et al., 2014). Aiming to get a first insight in BDNF`s function from hearing onset onwards, Bdnf was deleted in lower level brain regions under the promoter of the paired-box transcription factor Pax2 (Zuccotti et al., 2012; Chumak et al., 2016). A striking novel role of BDNF in Pax2-expressing cells in the auditory periphery is identified that points to BDNF as trigger for rapid auditory processing, executive memorylinked functions, and normal social behavior.

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft FOR 2060 project RU 713/3-2; GRK 2381; SPP 1608 RU 316/12-1 and KN 316/12-1; BFU2013-40944; NIH NIMH 1R01MH106623.

Trabajo presentado en el 43RD ANNUAL MidWinter MeetingAssociation for Otorhinolaryngology, celebrado en San José (Estados Unidos) del 25 al 29 de enero de 2020.