Nurr1 is not an essential regulator of BDNF in mouse cortical neurons

We examined Nurr1-mediated BDNF regulation in cortical neurons in activity-dependent and activity-independent states. Mouse primary cortical neurons were treated with the Nurr1 agonist, amodiaquine (AQ). Membrane ‎depolarization was induced by KCl or veratridine and reversed by nimodipine. AQ and membrane depolarization significantly increased Nurr1 (p < .001) and BDNF (pAQ < .001, pKCl < .01) as assessed by real-time qRT-‎PCR. However, Nurr1 knockdown did not affect BDNF gene expression in resting or depolarized neurons. Therefore, Nurr1 does not appear to regulate BDNF in cortical neurons.