Abstract

Neuronal survival and neurite elongation, two key components of neural regneration, are likely to depend on the availability to the neurons of appropriate trophic stimuli. Nerve Growth Factor has served for 30 years as a model for such neuronotrophic factors. We have recently identified a new ciliary neuronotrophic factor CNTF, directed to the cholinergic neurons of chick embryo ciliary ganglia, in the extract of intraocular tissues that these neurons innervate. Other neuronotrophic activities have been observed in several tissue extracts and conditioned media, which address neurons from several ganglia (GNTFs) or from spinal cord (SC-NTFs). Polyornithine-binding neurite-promoting factors (PNPFs) have also been recognized and partially purified from such conditioned media. We plan to continue the investigation of these several factors, particularly through the use of monoclonal antibodies.

  Funding Agency

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS016349-06
Application #
3396835
Study Section
Neurology C Study Section (NEUC)
Project Start
1980-03-01
Project End
1986-06-30
Budget Start
1985-03-01
Budget End
1986-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
1985
Total Cost
Indirect Cost

  Institution

Name
University of California San Diego
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
077758407
City
La Jolla
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
92093

  Publications

Junger, Heidi; Edelman, David B; Junger, Wolfgang G (2003) Hypertonicity promotes survival of corticospinal motoneurons via mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 signaling. J Mol Neurosci 21:111-20
Hopker, V H; Amoureux, M C; Varon, S (1997) NGF and BDNF in the anterior pituitary lobe of adult rats. J Neurosci Res 49:355-63
Longo, F M; Manthorpe, M; Xie, Y M et al. (1997) Synthetic NGF peptide derivatives prevent neuronal death via a p75 receptor-dependent mechanism. J Neurosci Res 48:1-17
Conner, J M; Lauterborn, J C; Yan, Q et al. (1997) Distribution of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein and mRNA in the normal adult rat CNS: evidence for anterograde axonal transport. J Neurosci 17:2295-313
Hoener, M C; Varon, S (1997) Reversible sedimentation and masking of nerve growth factor (NGF) antigen by high molecular weight fractions from rat brain. Brain Res 772:1-8
Junger, H; Varon, S (1997) Neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promote the survival of corticospinal motor neurons of neonatal rats in vitro. Brain Res 762:56-60
Hopker, V H; Kjaer, B; Varon, S (1997) Dopaminergic regulation of BDNF content in the pituitary intermediate lobe. Neuroreport 8:1089-93
Conner, J M; Varon, S (1997) Developmental profile of NGF immunoreactivity in the rat brain: a possible role of NGF in the establishment of cholinergic terminal fields in the hippocampus and cortex. Brain Res Dev Brain Res 101:67-79
Conner, J M; Varon, S (1996) Characterization of antibodies to nerve growth factor: assay-dependent variability in the cross-reactivity with other neurotrophins. J Neurosci Methods 65:93-9
Conner, J M (1996) Maintenance of sympathetic innervation into the hippocampal formation requires a continuous local availability of nerve growth factor. Neuroscience 72:933-45

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