title: GDNF slows loss of motoneurons but not axonal degeneration or premature death of pmn/pmn mice.
abstract: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a member of the TG F-beta superfamily, has been shown to be a highly potent neurotrophic factor that enhances survival of various neuronal cell types including motoneurons. To assess its therapeutic potential in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we treated mutant mice displaying motoneuron degeneration (progressive motor neuropathy; pmn) with encapsulated GDNF-secreting cells. Effects of GDNF treatment on pmn/pmn mice were compared with previous results obtained with ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) [Sagot Y, Tan SA, Baetge E, Schmalbruch H, Kato AC, Aebischer P (1995) Eur J Neurosci 7:1313-1322]. In contrast to CNTF, GDNF did not increase the lifespan of pmn/pmn mice. However, GDNF significantly reduced the loss of facial motoneurons by 50%, a value similar to what was observed when CNTF was administered to the pmn/pmn mice. Surprisingly, myelinated axon counts revealed that GDNF had no effect on nerve degeneration. Therefore, despite its potential in rescuing motoneuron cell bodies, the inability of GDNF to prevent nerve degeneration in pmn/pmn mice suggests that its usefulness in the treatment of motor neuron diseases may be restricted to cotreatment with other factors that act on the nerve process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Geneva Universtiy, 1211 Geneva-4, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sagot
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hammang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aebischer
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Kato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D002214:Capsules; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000187:drug effects; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D016019:Survival Analysis
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; C495040:Gdnf protein, mouse; C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins