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Neurotrophic‐4/5 is a survival factor for embryonic midbrain dopaminergic neurons in enriched cultures
Author(s) -
Hynes M. A.,
Poulsen K.,
Armanini M.,
Berkemeier L.,
Phillips H.,
Rosenthal A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490370118
Subject(s) - substantia nigra , dopaminergic , striatum , dopamine , neuroscience , midbrain , neurotrophic factors , biology , parkinson's disease , ventral tegmental area , neurodegeneration , neurotoxin , embryonic stem cell , endocrinology , medicine , central nervous system , receptor , disease , genetics , gene
Parkinson's disease is a prevalent neurological disease characterized by profound and incapacitating movement disorders. A common pathology in Parkinson's patients is degeneration of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons that innervate the striatum and a corresponding decrease in striatal dopamine content. We now report that NT‐4/5 can prevent the death of rat embryonic substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons in low density, enriched, primary cultures. Furthermore, these neurons express messenger RNA encoding the trkB receptor for NT‐4/5 and transcripts for NT‐4/5 are present in their environment. In addition, we demonstrate that NT‐4/5 protects embryonic dopaminergic neurons from the toxic effects of the neurotoxin MPP+ THUAS, nt‐4/5 could be a physiological survival factor for midbrain dopaminergic neurons and may be useful as a therapeutic agent for parkinson's disease. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.