title: Retinoic acid increases BDNF-dependent regeneration of chick retinal ganglion cells in vitro.
abstract: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) supports survival and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGC). Since the expression of its receptor TrkB can be induced by the transcriptional activator retinoic acid (RA), we have investigated the possibility that RA promotes axonal regeneration of differentiated chick RGC synergistically with BDNF. After injection of all-trans RA onto the chorio-allantoic membrane of stage E16 chick embryos, axonal regeneration was monitored in organ cultures supplemented with BDNF. RA enhanced neurite outgrowth of retinal ganglion cells 2- to 3-fold. The dose-dependent effect was observed only after application of RA in ovo and subsequent use of the neurotrophin, not with RA alone.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biologie II, RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mey
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rombach
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014817:Vitelline Membrane
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D014212:Tretinoin