Disruption of the CNTF gene results in motor neuron degeneration.
CNTF is a cytosolic molecule expressed postnatally in myelinating Schwann cells and in a subpopulation of astrocytes. Although CNTF administration prevents lesion-mediated and genetically determined motor neuron degeneration, its physiological function remained elusive. Here it is reported that abolition of CNTF gene expression by homologous recombination results in a progressive atrophy and loss of motor neurons in adult mice, which is functionally reflected by a small but significant reduction in muscle strength.
Masu
Y
Y
Abteilung Neurochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Martinsried, Germany.
Wolf
E
E
Holtmann
B
B
Sendtner
M
M
Brem
G
G
Thoenen
H
H
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development
D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins