Neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) increases adult rat retinal ganglion cell survival and neurite outgrowth in vitro.
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and neurite outgrowth were investigated in retinal explants from adult rats. Neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5) caused dose-dependent increases in neurite outgrowth with one-half maximal effects at approximately 0.5 ng/ml and maximal effects at 5 ng/ml. In explants treated for 7 days, the actions of NT-4/5 were similar to those of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); with either neurotrophin, nearly twice as many RGCs survived and there was a two- to threefold increase in the number of neurites formed by RGCs. Combinations of saturating concentrations of NT-4/5 and BDNF did not enhance these in vitro effects, implying that both neurotrophins share a common signaling pathway. In contrast, nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), or ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) appeared to exert minimal influences on RGC survival or neurite outgrowth.
Cohen
A
A
McGill University Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Montreal General Hospital Research Institute, Canada, Québec.
Bray
G M
GM
Aguayo
A J
AJ
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009409:Nerve Crush; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects*
D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; C071951:neurotrophin 5; C073922:neurotrophin 4