Neurons can be categorized in terms of where their axons project: within the central nervous system, within the peripheral nervous system, or through both central and peripheral environments. Examples of these categories are cerebellar neurons, sympathetic neurons, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, respectively. When explants containing one type of neuron were placed between cryosections ...

Neurotrophins play a principal role in neuronal survival and differentiation during development, but also in the maintenance of appropriate adult neuronal circuits and phenotypes. In the oculomotor system, we have demonstrated that neurotrophins are key regulators of developing and adult neuronal properties, but with peculiarities depending on each neurotrophin. For instance, the administration...

PURPOSE Plasma neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) levels are associated with several neural disorders. We previously reported that neurotrophins were released from salivary glands following acute immobilization stress. While the salivary glands were the source of plasma neurotrophins in that situation, the association between the expression of neurotrophins and the salivary gland under chronic stress condit...

It is well documented that psychostimulants may alter neuronal function and neurotransmission in the brain. Although the mechanism of psychostimulants is still unknown, it is known that these substances increase extracellular level of several neurotransmitters including dopamine (DA), serotonin, and norepinephrine by competing with monoamine transporters and can induce physical tolerance and de...

Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB) is thought to generate reactive oxygen species associated with a systemic inflammation and neurotrophins seem to be involved in cardiovascular inflammatory reactions. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of CPB on plasma neurotrophins levels and to appreciate the links existing between inflammation, oxidative stress and neurotrophins. Blood samples were...

Neurotrophins are a family of growth factors that are polypeptide in structure and are necessary for the development and maintenance of the vertebrate nervous system. The first member of this family, nerve growth factor (NGF) was discovered in 1952 by an Italian group of scientists led by Rita Levi-Montalcini. She received a Nobel Prize in 1987 for her team’s discovery. A few decades after the ...

The survival of axotomized RGCs was increased by intravitreal NT-4/5 given by repeated injections or osmotic minipumps, but the effects were less complete than predicted. Compared to a single injection of the neurotrophin on day 0, second injections on days 3 or 7 only sustained an additional 10-20% of the RGCs on day 10. Minipumps augmented RGC survival up to 4-fold (50%) at 2 weeks but most R...

The localization and expression of neurotrophins and their receptors during distraction osteogenesis was investigated in 72 male rat femurs (11 weeks old) to further clarify the concurrence of cellular and molecular events of new bone formation. After osteotomy, a 7-day lag phase was followed by distraction at the rate of 0.25 mm/12 h for 21 days (distraction phase), and a 7-day consolidation p...

Although traditionally little attention has been paid to the interplay between neurotrophins and the cell cycle, a number of recent findings suggest an important role for these growth factors in the regulation of this aspect of the cellular physiology. In this article, we review the evidence from a number of studies that neurotrophins can influence cell cycle progression or mitotic cycle arrest...

Neuronal growth factors regulate the survival of neurons by their survival and death-promoting activity on distinct populations of neurons. The neurotrophins nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) promote neuronal survival via tyrosine kinase (Trk) receptors, whereas NGF and BDNF can also induce apoptosis in developing neurons through p75(...