Abstract
CURRENT ideas about the dependence of neurons on target-derived growth factors were formulated on the basis of experiments involving neurons with projections to the periphery1,2. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and recently identified members of the NGF family of neuronal growth factors, known as neurotrophins, are thought to regulate survival of sympathetic and certain populations of sensory ganglion cells during development3–8. Far less is known about factors that regulate the survival of spinal and cranial motor neurons, which also project to peripheral targets. NGF has not been shown to influence motor neuron survival9,10, and whether the newly identified neurotrophins promote motor neuron survival is unknown. We show here that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is retrogradely transported by motor neurons in neonatal rats and that local application of BDNF to transected sciatic nerve prevents the massive death of motor neurons that normally follows axotomy in the neonatal period. These results show that BDNF has survival-promoting effects on motor neurons in vivo and suggest that BDNF may influence motor neuron survival during development.
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
Thoenen, H. & Barde, Y.-A. Physiol. Rev. 60, 1284–1335 (1980).
Snider, W. D. & Johnson, E. M. Jr Ann. Neurol. 26, 489–506 (1989).
Leibrock, J. et al. Nature 341, 149–152 (1989).
Hohn, A., Leibrock, J., Bailey, K. & Barde, Y.-A. Nature 344, 339–341 (1990).
Maisonpierre, P. et al. Science 247, 1446–1451 (1990).
Rosenthal, A. et al. Neuron 4, 767–773 (1990).
Hallböök, F., Ibáñez, C. F. & Persson, H. Neuron 6, 845–858 (1991).
Berkemeier, L. R. et al. Neuron 7, 857–866 (1991).
Oppenheim, R. W., Maderdrut, J. L. & Wells, D. J. J. comp. Neurol. 210, 174–189 (1982).
Yan, Q., Snider, W. D., Pinzone, J. J. & Johnson, E. M. Jr Neuron 1, 335–343 (1988).
DiStefano, P. S. et al. Neuron 8, 983–993 (1992).
Marchalonis, J. J. Biochem. J. 113, 229–305 (1969).
Schmalbruch, H. J. comp. Neurol. 224, 252–258 (1984).
Kashihara, Y. J. Physiol. 386, 135–148 (1987).
Maisonpierre, P. C. et al. Neuron 5, 501–509 (1990).
Acheson, A. et al. Neuron 7, 265–275 (1991).
Ernfors, P. & Persson, H. Eur. J. Neurosci. 3, 953–961 (1991).
Wayne, D. B. & Heaton, M. B. Devl Biol. 127, 220–223 (1988).
Yan, Q. et al. Soc. Neurosci. Absr. 17, 1119 (1991).
Yan, Q. & Johnson, E. M. Jr J. Neurosci. 8, 3481–3498 (1988).
Rodriguez-Tébar, A., Dechant, G. & Barde, Y.-A. Neuron 4, 487–492 (1990).
Squinto, S. P. et al. Cell 65, 885–893 (1991).
Klein, R., Jing, S., Nanduri, V., O'Rourke, E. & Barbacid, M. Cell 65, 189–197 (1991).
Soppet, D. et al. Cell 65, 895–903 (1991).
Lamballe, F., Klein, R. & Barbacid, M. Cell 66, 967–979 (1991).
Klein, R., Parada, L. F., Coulier, F. & Barbacid, M. EMBO J. 8, 3701–3709 (1989).
Klein, R., Martin-Zanca, D., Barbacid, M. & Parada, L. F. Development 109, 845–850 (1990).
Cordon-Cardo, C. et al. Cell 66, 173–183 (1991).
Klein, R., Lamballe, F., Bryant, S. & Barbacid, M. Neuron 8, 947–956 (1992).
Oppenheim, R. W., Qin-Wei, Y., Prevette, D. & Yan, Q. Nature 360, 755–757 (1992).
Sendtner, M., Holtmann, B., Kolbeck, R., Thoenen, H. & Barde, Y.-A. Nature 360, 757–759 (1992).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yan, Q., Elliott, J. & Snider, W. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor rescues spinal motor neurons from axotomy-induced cell death. Nature 360, 753–755 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/360753a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/360753a0
This article is cited by
-
Regulation of TrkB cell surface expression—a mechanism for modulation of neuronal responsiveness to brain-derived neurotrophic factor
Cell and Tissue Research (2020)
-
A Chemically Defined Common Medium for Culture of C2C12 Skeletal Muscle and Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Derived Spinal Spheroids
Cellular and Molecular Bioengineering (2020)
-
Peripheral Nerve Injury Modulates Neurotrophin Signaling in the Peripheral and Central Nervous System
Molecular Neurobiology (2014)
-
Lack of a synergistic effect of a non-viral ALS gene therapy based on BDNF and a TTC fusion molecule
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2011)
-
Down regulation of trophic factors in neonatal rat spinal cord after administration of cerebrospinal fluid from sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients
Journal of Neural Transmission (2011)
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.
