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Nature Neuroscience 11, 735–736 (1 July 2008) | doi:10.1038/nn0708-735

Catecholaminergic neuron survival: getting hooked on GDNF

Carlos F Ib|[aacute]||[ntilde]|ez

The discovery of GDNF in 1993 by scientists from the now-defunct company Synergen has been hailed as a milestone in Parkinson's disease and neurotrophic factor research. GDNF is a potent survival factor for mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons both in vitro and in rodent and primate animal models of Parkinson's disease and has shown promise in some clinical trials.