Abstract
THE period of natural cell death in the development of rodent motor neurons is followed by a period of sensitivity to axonal injury1-3. In the rat this early postnatal period of vulnerability coincides with that of very low ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) levels in the sciatic nerve before CNTF increases to the high, adult levels4. The developmental time course of CNTF expression, its regional tissue distribution and its cytosolic localization (as suggested by its primary structure)4,5 favour a role for CNTF as a lesion factor rather than a target-derived neurotrophic molecule like nerve growth factor. Nevertheless CNTF exhibits neurotrophic activity in vitro on different populations of embryonic neurons6. To determine whether the vulnerability of motor neurons to axotomy in the early postnatal phase is due to insufficient availability of CNTF, we transected the axons of newborn rat motor neurons and demonstrated that local application of CNTF prevents the degeneration of the corresponding cell bodies.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
1. Sheard, P., McCaig, C. D. & Harris, A. J. Devi Biol. 102, 21-31 (1984). 2. Schmalbruch, H. J. comp. Neurol. 224, 252-258 (1984). 3. Gudden, B. Arch. Psychiat. Nervenkrankh. 2, 693-723 (1870). 4. St򣫀, K. A. et al. Nature 342, 920-923 (1989). 5. Lin, L.-F. H. et al. Science 246,1023-1025 (1989). 6. Barbin, G., Manthorpe, M. & Var󮬀S. J. Neurochem. 43,1468-1478 (1984). 7. Kreutzberg, G. W. m 77" Facial Nerve (ed. May, M.) 75-83 (Thieme, New York, 1986) 8. Nissl, F. Allg. Z. Psychiat. 48,197-198 (1892). 9. Graeber, M. B. & Kreutzberg, G. W. J. Neurocytol. 15, 363-373 (1986). 10. Tetzlaff, W., Graeber, M., Bisby, M. A. & Kreutzberg, G. W. Glia 1, 90-95 (1988). 11. Bignami, A. & Dahl, D. Nature 252, 55-56 (1974). 12. Springall, D. R., Hacker, G. W., Grimelius, L. & Polak, J. M. Histochemistry 81, 603-608 (1984). 13. Ernsberger, U., Sendtner, M. & Rohrer, H. Neuron 2,1275-1284 (1989). 14. Oppenheim, R. W. J. comp. Neurol. 246, 281-286 (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sendtner, M., Kreutzberg, G. & Thoenen, H. Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents the degeneration of motor neurons after axotomy. Nature 345, 440–441 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/345440a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/345440a0
This article is cited by
-
Therapy development for spinal muscular atrophy: perspectives for muscular dystrophies and neurodegenerative disorders
Neurological Research and Practice (2022)
-
Effect of ciliary neurotrophic factor on neural differentiation of stem cells of human exfoliated deciduous teeth
Journal of Biological Engineering (2020)
-
Deletion of CD38 and supplementation of NAD+ attenuate axon degeneration in a mouse facial nerve axotomy model
Scientific Reports (2020)
-
Ultrasound and shock-wave stimulation to promote axonal regeneration following nerve surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies
Scientific Reports (2018)
-
Neurotrophic factor control of satiety and body weight
Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2016)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.