Neurotrophic factors (NTs) are secreted proteins that regulate survival and differentiation of nerve cells. Nerve growth factor (NGF), the first discovered NT, together with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3 ) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5), form the classical family of NTs. However, many other growth factors, which are effective also outside the nervous system, such ...

Recent studies have indicated that the choice of lineage of neural progenitor cells is determined, at least in part, by environmental factors, such as neurotrophic factors. Despite extensive studies using exogenous neurotrophic factors, the effect of endogenous neurotrophic factors on the differentiation of progenitor cells remains obscure. Here we show that embryonic spinal cord derived-progen...

At vanishingly low concentrations, factors of the neurotrophin family (NGF, BDNF, NT3 and NT4/5) can promote neuronal survival or death. Many investigations indicate that the survival-promoting signals of neurotrophins are generated by activation of Trk tyrosine kinase receptors and that their death-promoting signals are generated by activation of p75 neurotrophin receptors (p75(NTR)). Despite ...

In this report, we provide evidence that NGF and BDNF have functionally antagonistic actions on sympathetic neuron growth and target innervation, with NGF acting via TrkA to promote growth and BDNF via p75NTR to inhibit growth. Specifically, in cultured sympathetic neurons that themselves synthesize BDNF, exogenous BDNF inhibits and function-blocking BDNF antibodies enhance process outgrowth. B...

Background: Diazinon (Dzn), an Organophosphorus (OP) pesticide, is extensively used in agriculture. Acetylcholinesterase inhibition is linked to OP toxicity, and there are major mental health concerns associated with the use of pesticides. The objective of this study was to assess the depressive behavior in an animal model following their exposure to Dzn and the effect on the Brain-Derived Neur...