title: Differential effects of the trophic factors BDNF, NT-4, GDNF, and IGF-I on the isthmo-optic nucleus in chick embryos.
abstract: The isthmo-optic nucleus (ION) of chick embryos is a model system for the study of retrograde trophic signaling in developing CNS neurons. The role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is well established in this system. Recent work has implicated neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) as additional trophic factors for ION neurons. Here it was examined in vitro and in vivo whether these factors are target-derived trophic factors for the ION in 13- to 16-day-old chick embryos. Unlike BDNF, neither GDNF, NT-4, nor IGF-I increased the survival of ION neurons in dissociated cultures identified by retrograde labeling with the fluorescent tracer DiI. BDNF and IGF-I promoted neurite outgrowth from ION explants, whereas GDNF and NT-4 had no effect. Injections of NT-4, but not GDNF, in the retina decreased the survival of ION neurons and accelerated cell death in the ION. NT-4-like immunoreactivity was present in the retina and the ION. Exogenous, radiolabeled NT-4, but not GDNF or IGF-I, was retrogradely transported from the retina to the ION. NT-4 transport was significantly reduced by coinjection of excess cold nerve growth factor (NGF), indicating that the majority of NT-4 bound to p75 neurotrophin receptors during axonal transport. Binding of NT-4 to chick p75 receptors was confirmed in L-cells, which express chick p75 receptors. These data indicate that GDNF has no direct trophic effects on ION neurons. IGF-I may be an afferent trophic factor for the ION, and NT-4 may act as an antagonist to BDNF, either by competing with BDNF for p75 and/or trkB binding or by signaling cell death via p75.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Janiga
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Rind
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: von Bartheld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001370:Axonal Transport / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C073922:neurotrophin 4