title: Evidence for multiple, local functions of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in retinal development: expression of CNTF and its receptors and in vitro effects on target cells.
abstract: There is increasing, although largely indirect, evidence that neurotrophic factors not only function as target-derived survival factors for projection neurons, but also act locally to regulate developmental processes. We studied the expression of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and the CNTF-specific ligand-binding alpha-subunit of the CNTF receptor complex (CNTFR alpha) in the rat retina, a well-defined CNS model system, and CNTF effects on cultured retinal neurons. Both CNTF and CNTFR alpha (mRNA and protein) are expressed during phases of retinal neurogenesis and differentiation. Retina-specific Müller glia are immunocytochemically identified as the site of CNTF production and CNTFR alpha-expressing, distinct neuronal cell types as potential CNTF targets. Biological effects on corresponding neurons in culture further support the conclusion that locally supplied CNTF plays a regulatory role in the development of various retinal cell types including ganglion cells and interneurons.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy I, University of Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiese
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020801:Receptor, Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor