title: High affinity neurotrophin receptors in the human pre-term newborn, infant, and adult cerebellum.
abstract: The immunohistochemical occurrence of the high affinity neurotrophin (NT) receptors trkA, trkB, and trkC is shown in the pre-term newborn, infant, and adult human post-mortem cerebellum. Immunoreactive neuronal perikarya and processes were observed in all specimens examined, where they appeared unevenly distributed in the cerebellar cortical layers and deep nuclei, and showed regional differences among cerebellar lobules and folia. The trk receptor-antibodies, tested by Western blot on human cerebellum homogenates, revealed multiple immunoreactive bands for trkA and single bands for trkB and trkC. The results obtained show the tissue localization of the trk receptor-like immunoreactivity in the human cerebellum from prenatal to adult age. The analysis for codistribution of the receptors with the relevant ligand and among the receptors in discrete cortical and deep nuclei tissue fields shows a wide variety of conditions, from a good similarity in terms of type and density of labeled structures, to a lack of correspondence, and suggests the possibility of colocalization of trk receptors with the relevant neurotrophin and among them in the cerebellar cortex. These results sustain the concept that the neurotrophin trophic system participates in the development, differentiation, and maintenance of the human cerebellar connectivity and support the possibility of a multifactorial trophic support for the neurotrophins through target-derived and local mechanisms.
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: Rossano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ambu
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Del Fiacco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D002102:Cadaver; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000378:metabolism; D020812:Receptor, trkC / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D020813:Receptor, trkB; D020812:Receptor, trkC