title: Neurotrophic support of midbrain dopaminergic neurons.
abstract: In this chapter we review work on neurotrophic factors for midbrain dopaminergic neurons mainly from the past decade, with a focus on neurotrophins and fibroblast growth factors. We summarize data obtained from animal models of Parkinson's disease, review analyses of neurotrophin, neurotrophin receptor and FGF-2 knockout mice and put these into context with data obtained from patients with Parkinson's disease and from postmortem studies. We provide a brief overview on several other factors (EGF, TGF-alpha, IGF, CNTF, PDGF, interleukins) and their capacity to promote survival and protect lesioned DAergic neurons. TGF-betas are reviewed in a separate chapter (Roussa et al, this volume).
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Neuroanatomy, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307 D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. oliver.vonbohlen@arcor.de
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: von Bohlen und Halbach
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unsicker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016380:Brain Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D019610:Cytoprotection / Q000235:genetics; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D004298:Dopamine