title: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-4/5 stimulate growth of axonal branches from regenerating retinal ganglion cells.
abstract: To investigate the influences of growth factors on axonal regeneration in the mammalian CNS, we used intracellular tracers to quantitate the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin (NT)-4/5, or NT-3 on individual retinal ganglion cell (RGC) axons in the retinas of adult rats after optic nerve transection. A single injection of BDNF or the prolonged administration of NT-4/5 by mini-pump increased axon branch median lengths by eightfold but had no effect on the number of branches formed by the RGC axons. NT-3 did not significantly influence axonal regrowth. These specific in vivo effects of BDNF and NT-4/5 on axonal regeneration from injured RGCs may be used to promote growth and expand the abnormally small terminal arbors observed when RGCs regrow into their CNS targets.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Neuroscience, Montréal General Hospital Research Institute, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sawai
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kittlerova
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Aguayo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001710:Biotin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors; D014795:Visual Pathways
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; C070614:neurobiotin; C071951:neurotrophin 5; D001710:Biotin; C073922:neurotrophin 4