title: Disruption of the CNTF gene results in motor neuron degeneration.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Neurochemie, Max-Planck-Institut für Psychiatrie, Martinsried, Germany.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holtmann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sendtner
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brem
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thoenen
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins