Neurturin protects dopaminergic neurons following medial forebrain bundle axotomy.
To determine whether neurturin (NTN), a recently identified homologue of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), is able to preserve tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-IR) in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, polymer encapsulated cells genetically engineered to release NTN were implanted near the substantia nigra 1 week before a unilateral medial forebrain bundle axotomy. Animals were allowed to survive for 1 week post-axotomy. Upon sacrifice, animals that received a NTN capsule had a significantly higher percentage of TH-IR (lesioned side vs non-lesioned side) than animals that had received a capsule containing non-transfected parent cells. However, in contrast to GDNF, no reduction of turning was observed upon amphetamine rotation with NTN. Nevertheless, these results suggest that NTN might have a therapeutic value for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Division of Surgical Research and Gene Therapy Center, CHUV, Lausanne, Switzerland.
J L
JL
Tseng
S L
SL
Bruhn
A D
AD
Zurn
P
P
Aebischer
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D019771:Axotomy; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051101:Neurturin; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D051101:Neurturin; C495057:Nrtn protein, rat; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine