Premium
Bimodal upregulation of glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the neonatal rat brain following ischemic/hypoxic injury
Author(s) -
Ikeda Tomoaki,
Koo Heasoo,
Xia Yi X.,
Ikenoue Tsuyomu,
Choi Ben H.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-5748(02)00082-5
Subject(s) - glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor , neurotrophic factors , astrogliosis , neuroscience , downregulation and upregulation , gdnf family of ligands , astrocyte , medicine , biology , pathology , endocrinology , central nervous system , receptor , biochemistry , gene
In order to delineate the spatial and temporal patterns of glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression following ischemic/hypoxic injury in immature and neonatal brain, GDNF protein levels and immunocytochemistry were studied in rats subjected to a modified Levine procedure. Significant upregulation of GDNF protein occurred in a bimodal fashion in the damaged left cerebral cortex and hippocampus, while the levels in the right cerebral hemisphere of both control and ischemic groups remained relatively unchanged. Immunocytochemical studies indicated that the early rise in GDNF levels was most likely to be related to enhanced neuronal release of GDNF. The second rise was probably related to progressive astrogliosis that occurred in response to injury. In contrast to the lack of GDNF expression among astrocytes in normal mature brains, reactive astrocytes in the neonate appear to possess a ready capacity to express GDNF. Spatial and temporal changes in the pattern of GDNF expression following injury, as determined in this study may provide insight into the functions of GDNF in vivo and into possible therapeutic approaches toward prevention of damage or rescue of neurons following brain injury.