Elsevier

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 200, Issue 1, 10 November 1995, Pages 45-48
Neuroscience Letters

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor promotes survival and blocks nitric oxide synthase expression in adult rat spinal motoneurons after ventral root avulsion

https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3940(95)12078-IGet rights and content

Abstract

In adult spinal motoneurons, retrograde cell death is induced by ventral root avulsion. A lethal effect of nitric oxide has been implicated, since nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is expressed in the motoneurons destined to die. Our study investigates the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on the retrograde cell death and NOS expression of adult rat spinal motoneurons. Following ventral root avulsion and 4 weeks of continuous treatment, BDNF, but not CNTF, was found to prevent cell death and NOS expression in the lesioned motoneurons. This suggests a therapeutic potential for BDNF in the adult nervous system, possibly through blockage of nitric oxide synthesis.

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    This study was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council (project 2886), Umeå University and Josef Anér's Foundation.

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