Arrest of motor neuron disease in wobbler mice cotreated with CNTF and BDNF.
Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) each promote the survival and differentiation of developing motor neurons, but do so through distinct cellular signaling pathways. Administration of either factor alone has been shown to slow, but not to arrest, progression of motor neuron dysfunction in wobbler mice, an animal model of motor neuron disease. Because CNTF and BDNF are known to synergize in vitro and in ovo, the efficacy of CNTF and BDNF cotreatment was tested in the same animal mode. Subcutaneous injection of the two factors on alternate days was found to arrest disease progression in wobbler mice for 1 month, as measured by several behavioral, physiological, and histological criteria.
Mitsumoto
H
H
Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, OH 44195.
Ikeda
K
K
Klinkosz
B
B
Cedarbaum
J M
JM
Wong
V
V
Lindsay
R M
RM
D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000187:drug effects; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins