Evidence for a tropic role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in transplanted embryonic retinae.
Developing retinal axons must follow a stereotypic course directing them to the subcortical visual centres which on arrival they must recognise. Transplantation studies suggest that local substrate cues close to the surface of the brainstem and diffusible factors emanating from the target region are important. To test a role for diffusible factors, we transplanted retinae to the cerebral cortex and have shown that outgrowth can be promoted by BDNF secreting fibroblasts.
Panni
M K
MK
Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, UK.
Atkinson
J
J
Lund
R D
RD
D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000637:transplantation*
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins