Abstract
NEUROTROPHIN-3 (NT-3)1–4 and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4)5–7, together with nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, are members of the neurotrophin family of proteins8,9, which supports the survival of vertebrate neurons. However, no function in vivo has been described for NT-4 and limited information is available on the role of the other neurotrophins in the central nervous system in vivo. Nerve growth factor prevents the degeneration of lesioned septal cholinergic neurons in the adult brain10–13, whereas brain-derived neurotrophic factor prevents the death of developing motor neurons14–16 and a subpopulation of adult septal cholinergic neurons17. Finally, NT-3 partially prevents the death of facial motor neurons in newborn rats16. To assess the role of NT-3 and NT-4 in the adult brain in vivo, we implanted genetically modified fibroblasts that constitutively express high levels of NT-3 or NT-4. The results show that NT-3, but no other neurotrophin, prevents the degeneration of noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus in a 6-hydroxydopamine lesion model that resembles the pattern of cell loss found in Alzheimer's disease18,19. These results imply that NT-3 may have therapeutic potential for preventing the death of noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus.
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
Hohn, A., Leibrock, J., Bailey, K. & Barde, Y.-A. Nature 344, 339–341 (1990).
Maisonpierre, P. C. et al. Science 247, 1446–1451 (1990).
Rosenthal, A. et al. Neuron. 4, 767–773 (1990).
Ernfors, P., Ibanez, C. F., Ebendal, T., Olson, L. & Persson, H. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 5454–5458 (1990).
Hallböök, F., Ibanez, C. F. & Persson, H. Neuron 6, 845–858 (1991).
Berkemeier, L. R. et al. Neuron 7, 857–866 (1991).
Ip, N. Y. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 3060–3064 (1992).
Thoenen, H. Trends Neurosci. 14, 165–179 (1991).
Persson, H. & Ibanez, C. F. Curr. Opin. Neurol. Neurosurg. 6, 11–18 (1993).
Hefti, F. J. Neurosci. 6, 2155–2162 (1986).
Williams, L. R. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Scl. U.S.A. 83, 9231–9235 (1986).
Kromer, L. F. Science 235, 214–216 (1987).
Rosenberg, M. B. et al. Science 242, 1575–1578 (1988).
Yan, Q., Elliott, J. & Snider, W. D. Nature 360, 753–755 (1992).
Oppenheim, R. W., Qin-Wei, Y., Prevette, D. & Yan, Q. Nature 360, 755–757 (1992).
Sendtner, M., Holtmann, B., Kolbeck, R., Thoenen, M. & Barde, Y.-A. Nature 360, 757–759 (1992).
Knüsel, B. et al. J. Neurosci. 12, 4391–4402 (1992).
Chan-Palay, V. Prog. Brain Res. 88, 625–630 (1991).
German, D. C. et al. Ann. Neurol. 32, 667–676 (1992).
Westin, G., Gerster, T., Muller, M. M., Schaffner, G. & Schaffner, W. Nucleic. Acids Res. 15, 6787–6798 (1987).
Ernfors, P. et al. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 86, 4756–4760 (1989).
Friedman, W. et al. Expl Neurol. 119, 72–78 (1993).
Merlio, J.-P., Ernfors, P., Jaber, M. & Persson, H. Neuroscience 51, 513–532 (1992).
Lamballe, F., Klein, R. & Barbacid, M. Cell 66, 967–979 (1991).
Altar, C. A., Criden, M. R., Lindsay, R. M. & DiStefano, P. S. J. Neurosci. 13, 733–743 (1993).
Ernfors, P., Wetmore, C., Olson, L. & Persson, H. Neuron 5, 511–526 (1990).
Phillips, H. S., Halns, H. M., Laramee, G. R., Rosenthal, A. & Winslow J. W. Science 250, 290–294 (1990).
Ernfors, P. & Persson, H. Eur. J. Neurosci. 3, 953–961 (1991).
Friedman, W. J., Ernfors, P. & Persson, H. J. Neurosci. 11, 1577–1584 (1991).
Harley, C. Prog. Brain Res. 88, 307–321 (1991).
Borgstahl, G. E. O. et al. Cell 71, 107–118 (1992).
Beal, M. F., Hyman, B. T. & Koroshetz, W. Trends. Neurosci. 16, 125–131 (1993).
Ibanez, C. F. et al. Development 117, 1345–1353 (1993).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arenas, E., Persson, H. Neurotrophin-3 prevents the death of adult central noradrenergic neurons in vivo. Nature 367, 368–371 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/367368a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/367368a0
This article is cited by
-
The path from trigeminal asymmetry to cognitive impairment: a behavioral and molecular study
Scientific Reports (2021)
-
Interferon-β Inhibits Neurotrophin 3 Signalling and Pro-Survival Activity by Upregulating the Expression of Truncated TrkC-T1 Receptor
Molecular Neurobiology (2017)
-
Up-Regulation of Neurotrophic Factors by Cinnamon and its Metabolite Sodium Benzoate: Therapeutic Implications for Neurodegenerative Disorders
Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology (2013)
-
The neuroprotective effect of dental pulp cells in models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Journal of Neural Transmission (2009)
-
Neurotrophin and neuropeptide expression in mouse brain is regulated by knockout of the norepinephrine transporter
Journal of Neural Transmission (2008)
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.