Ciliary neurotrophic factor prevents degeneration of adult rat substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in vivo.
We have investigated the neuroprotective effects of recombinant human ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) for injured dopaminergic neurons of the adult rat substantia nigra compacta. Fourteen days after a unilateral transection of the nigrostriatal pathway two-thirds of the neurons (identified by retrograde labeling) had degenerated. In sharp contrast, 73% (a few cases, > 90%) of this cell loss was prevented by continuous infusion of CNTF close to the injured neurons. However, CNTF did not prevent the disappearance of the transmitter-synthesizing enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase. Thus, CNTF has potent neurotrophic effects for injured adult rat dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons, whose degeneration plays a major causative role in Parkinson disease.
Hagg
T
T
Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla 92093-0601.
Varon
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002232:Carbocyanines / Q000032:analysis; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis
D002232:Carbocyanines; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C024286:3,3'-dioctadecylindocarbocyanine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine