title: Neurotrophin-like immunoreactivity in the human pre-term newborn, infant, and adult cerebellum.
abstract: The immunohistochemical occurrence of the neurotrophin (NT) proteins nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is shown in the pre-term newborn, infant, and adult human post-mortem cerebellum. The NT-like immunoreactive structures were unevenly distributed and showed regional differences among cerebellar lobules and folia. NGF-, NT-4-, and NT-3-positive neuronal perikarya were observed in all specimens examined. At variance with the other neurotrophins, the BDNF antiserum labelled neuronal cell bodies only in newborn life and infancy, as well as extensive nerve fibre systems, whose density increased with age. The NT-antibodies, tested by Western blot on human cerebellum homogenates, revealed immunoreactive bands corresponding to proteins of heterogenous molecular weight. The results obtained provide a first demonstration of the tissue localization of the NTs in the human cerebellum from perinatal to adult age, thus suggesting their involvement in the development, differentiation and maintenance of the cerebellar connectivity. Codistribution of the four NTs or sets of them was observed in cortical and deep nuclei neurons. Multiple trophic roles for NTs, encompassing the classic target-derived and local mechanisms of support, are envisaged as significant in development, differentiation, and maintenance of the human cerebellar connectivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytomorphology, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria di Monserrato, 09042, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Quartu
authors.forename: Maria Pina
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Follesa
authors.forename: Maria Letizia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Fiacco
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002102:Cadaver; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; C073922:neurotrophin 4