PMC

The structure of rodent Bdnf includes eight 5’ non-coding exons spliced to a common 3’ exon IX. CpG islands within exons I, II, IV, VI, and IX are all subject to methylation. Adapted from and . Each individual exon is represented by a box and CpG islands are represented by dark lines underlying the corresponding region that they occur.

Bdnf mRNA expression (Panels A-B) and exon IX methylation (Panel C-D) measurements at PD60 in the PVN following fetal DEX exposure during GD18-21 in rats. Bdnf mRNA was measured using qRT-PCR. Animals were weaned at 21 days of age and placed on a high fat diet. Animals were euthanized at 60 days of age, females were all in diestrus. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM of 3-7 individual rats per group. * = (p<0.05) between vehicle and DEX-exposed groups.