Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • News & Views
  • Published:

Milestone

Neurology's growth factor: 100 years of Rita Levi-Montalcini

On Wednesday 22 April 2009, Rita Levi-Montalcini, Nobel Prize laureate and discoverer of the first neural growth factor, turned 100 years old. Her scientific work drastically changed basic neuroscience and could have important implications for the treatment of neurological disorders.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Rita Levi-Montalcini with Stanley Cohen at Levi-Montalcini's birthday symposium “The Brain in Health and Disease” (Pallazo Senatorio, Rome, 22 April 2009).

References

  1. Levi-Montalcini, R. & Hamburger, V. Selective growth stimulating effects of mouse sarcoma on the sensory and sympathetic nervous system of the chick embryo. J. Exp. Zool. 116, 321–361 (1951).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Levi-Montalcini, R. & Calissano, P. The scientific challenge of the 21st century: from a reductionist to a holistic approach via systems biology. BMC Neurosci. 7 (Suppl. 1), S1 (2006).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Hamburger, V. The effects of wing bud extirpation on the development of the central nervous system in chick embryos. J. Exp. Zool. 68, 449–494 (1934).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Dawbarn, D. & Allen, S. J. Neurotrophins and neurodegeneration. Neuropathol. Appl. Neurobiol. 29, 211–230 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Allen, S. J. & Dawbarn, D. Clinical relevance of the neurotrophins and their receptors. Clin. Sci. (Lond.) 110, 175–191 (2006).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Fischer, W. et al. Amelioration of cholinergic neuron atrophy and spatial memory impairment in aged rats by nerve growth factor. Nature 329, 65–68 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tuszynski, M. H. et al. A phase 1 clinical trial of nerve growth factor gene therapy for Alzheimer disease. Nat. Med. 11, 551–555 (2005).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Tabakman, R., Lecht, S., Sephanova, S., Arien-Zakay, H. & Lazarovici, P. Interactions between the cells of the immune and nervous system: neurotrophins as neuroprotection mediators in CNS injury. Prog. Brain Res. 146, 387–401 (2004).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Filippi, M. & Rocca, M. A. Disturbed function and plasticity in multiple sclerosis as gleaned from functional magnetic resonance imaging. Curr. Opin. Neurol. 16, 275–282 (2003).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Levi-Montalcini, R. & Cohen, S. Effects of the extract of the mouse submaxillary salivary glands on the sympathetic system of mammals. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 85, 324–341 (1960).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeroen J. G. Geurts.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The author declares no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Geurts, J. Neurology's growth factor: 100 years of Rita Levi-Montalcini. Nat Rev Neurol 5, 355–356 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2009.91

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2009.91

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing