Neurotrophins regulate development, maintenance, and function of vertebrate nervous systems. Neurotrophins activate two different classes of receptors, the Trk family of receptor tyrosine kinases and p75NTR, a member of the TNF receptor superfamily. Through these, neurotrophins activate many signaling pathways, including those mediated by ras and members of the cdc-42/ras/rho G protein families...

Neurotrophins have been demonstrated to play important roles in the development and functioning of the nervous system. This family of proteins consists of four homologous members in mammals: NGF, BDNF, NT-3, and NT-4/5. A new member, called NT-6, was recently cloned from the platyfish Xiphophorus maculatus. This protein shares closer structural relationship to NGF than the other neurotrophins, ...

Survival of inner ear sensory neurons depends on two neurotrophins, BDNF and NT-3, and their respective receptors, TrkB and TrkC. Because both receptors are present in the same neuron, it has been suggested that BDNF and NT-3 are functionally redundant in promoting neuronal survival. Knock-in of one ligand into the locus of the other one confirmed this hypothesis for the cochlea, leaving open t...

Neurotrophins are well known for their physiological role as key modulators of neuronal survival, neurite out-growth, and synaptic connectivity during development and into adulthood. Moreover, neurotrophins are potent agents, ameliorating neuronal degeneration in many model systems for neurological diseases. However, a causal role for mutations in neurotrophins or neurotrophin receptors in huma...

Introduction: Neurotrophins, as a family of proteins, are responsible for induction of the survival, development, and function of neurons. Also, neurotropic factors are growth factors like Neurotrophins that help neurons survive. Moreover, Neurotrophins differentiate between progenitor cells so that neurons are formed. Despite the fact that the majority of mammalian brain neurons are produced p...

1 Localization of Neurotrophin Proteins Within the Central Nervous System by Immmunohistochemistry James M. Conner ................................................................................... 3 2 Neurotrophin Immunohistochemistry in Peripheral Tissues Robert A. Rush and Xin-Fu Zhou....................................................... 21 3 Extraction and Quantification of the Neurotroph...

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) affects 2-3 per 1000 full-term neonates. Up to 75% of newborns with severe HIE die or have severe neurological handicaps. Stem cell therapy offers the potential to replace HIE-damaged cells and enhances the autoregeneration process. Our laboratory implanted Multipotent Astrocytic Stem Cells (MASCs) into a neonatal rat model of hypoxia-ischemia (HI) and demo...

Neurotrophins were christened in consideration of their actions on the nervous system and, for a long time, they were the exclusive interest of neuroscientists. However, more recently, this family of proteins has been shown to possess essential cardiovascular functions. During cardiovascular development, neurotrophins and their receptors are essential factors in the formation of the heart and c...

Although the effects of neurotrophins on survival and differentiation of various neuronal populations have been well studied, little is known about their role in synaptic development and function. We have investigated the long-term effects of neurotrophins in the maturation of neuromuscular synapses in Xenopus nerve-muscle cocultures. BDNF and NT-3, but not NGF, elicited significant changes in ...

Neurotrophins exert many biological effects not directly targeted at neurons, including modulation of keratinocyte proliferation and apoptosis in vitro. Here we exploit the cyclic growth and regression activity of the murine hair follicle to explore potential nonneuronal functions of neurotrophins in the skin, and analyze the follicular expression and hair growth-modulatory function of BDNF, NT...