Premium
Development of pontine noradrenergic A5 neurons requires brain‐derived neurotrophic factor
Author(s) -
Guo Hong,
Hellard David T.,
Huang Lennox,
Katz David M.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2005.04016.x
Subject(s) - tyrosine hydroxylase , neurotrophic factors , brainstem , gdnf family of ligands , glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor , medicine , endocrinology , biology , neuroscience , brain derived neurotrophic factor , ciliary neurotrophic factor , neurotrophin , neurite , microbiology and biotechnology , receptor , dopamine , in vitro , genetics
Pontine noradrenergic A5 neurons play a pivotal role in maturation and regulation of the brainstem respiratory rhythm‐generating network. Analysis of newborn brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)‐null mice revealed a marked loss of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive A5 neurons compared to wildtype controls that was rescued by null mutation of the proapoptotic gene Bax. In cultures of the A5 region from E12.5 rat embryos, BDNF significantly increased the number and branching of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive neurons. Immunoneutralization of endogenous glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor partially inhibited the BDNF‐dependent increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive cells without affecting neurite number. The A5 nucleus is the first brainstem cell group identified at which BDNF is required in vivo for development of neurons critical for cardiorespiratory control.