Premium
Neuroprotection of striatal neurons against kainate excitotoxicity by neurotrophins and GDNF family members
Author(s) -
Gratacòs Elena,
PérezNavarro Esther,
Tolosa Eduard,
Arenas Ernest,
Alberch Jordi
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00538.x
Subject(s) - glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor , neurturin , neurotrophic factors , gdnf family of ligands , neurotrophin , neuroscience , neuroprotection , biology , brain derived neurotrophic factor , neurotrophin 3 , kainate receptor , ciliary neurotrophic factor , nerve growth factor , glutamate receptor , receptor , biochemistry , ampa receptor
Neurotrophic factors are regarded as potential therapeutic tools in neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we analysed the protective effects of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin‐3, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin against the excitotoxic damage induced by kainate in striatal neurons in vitro and in vivo . Our results show that the decrease in the number of cultured striatal calbindin‐positive neurons induced by kainate was prevented by treatment with any of these factors. To characterize their protective effects in vivo , cell lines overexpressing brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin‐3, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor or neurturin were grafted into the striatum. We found that the numbers of striatal projection neurons (calbindin‐positive) and striatal interneurons (parvalbumin‐ or choline acetyltransferase‐positive) were differentially decreased after kainate lesion. These neurotrophic factors prevented the loss of striatal projection neurons and interneurons with differing efficiency: brain‐derived neurotrophic factor was the most efficient, whereas neurturin was the least. Our findings show that brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin‐3, glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor and neurturin have specific neuroprotective profiles in striatal neurons and indicate that they are specific modulators of the survival of distinct subsets of striatal neurons in pathophysiological conditions.