Anterograde transport of neurotrophins and axodendritic transfer in the developing visual system.
Neurotrophic factors support the differentiation and survival of neurons and influence properties of synaptic transmission. The neurotrophic hypothesis postulates a retrograde action of trophic factors: their production and release by target cells and their uptake by innervating axons. Besides the retrograde route of trophic messengers, the survival of neurons and the development of synapses is thought to be also regulated by anterograde, afferent trophic signals. We now show that exogenous neurotrophins are transported in the anterograde direction, from cell bodies to the axon terminals, and that the intact neurotrophin is released after anterograde transport, taken up and utilized by second-order visual neurons in the developing chick brain. These results suggest that anterogradely transported neurotrophins may play a role in synaptic plasticity and may have effects at more than one synapse beyond the initial release site.
von Bartheld
C S
CS
Department of Physiology & Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195-7290, USA.
Byers
M R
MR
Williams
R
R
Bothwell
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D020812:Receptor, trkC; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020812:Receptor, trkC