Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and are members of the neurotrophin family, a family of neurotrophic factors that also includes neurotrophin (NT) 3 and NT4/5. Neurotrophins have essential roles in the survival, development and differentiation of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Neurotrophins exert their effects by binding to correspon...

■ Abstract 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 prote...

These studies tested the hypothesis that survival-promoting effects of neurotrophins on basal forebrain cholinergic neurons are enhanced under stress. Septal neurons from embryonic day 14-15 rats exposed for 10-14 d to neurotrophin [nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), or neurotrophin-4 (NT-4), each at 100 ng/ml] showed a two- to threefold ...

Skeletal muscles are a target for motoneurons and synthesize neurotrophins, including nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5). Both at the embryonic stage and the adult stage, the mRNA expression of neurotrophins in skeletal muscles of rats has been reported. However, little was known about the mRNA expression pat...

Although dendritic growth and differentiation are critical for the proper development and function of neocortex, the molecular signals that regulate these processes are largely unknown. The potential role of neurotrophins was tested by treating slices of developing visual cortex with NGF, BDNF, NT-3, or NT-4 and by subsequently visualizing the dendrites of pyramidal neurons using particle-media...

The nerve growth factor family of growth factors, collectively known as neurotrophins, are evolutionarily ancient regulators with an enormous range of biological functions. Reflecting this long history and functional diversity, mechanisms for cellular responses to neurotrophins are exceptionally complex. Neurotrophins signal through p75 (NTR), a member of the TNF receptor superfamily member, an...

The neurotrophins comprise a family of secreted proteins that elicit profound responses in cells of the developing and mature vertebrate nervous system including the regulation of neuronal survival and differentiation. The molecular mechanisms by which the neurotrophins exert their effects have been the subject of intense investigation. The neurotrophins elicit responses in neurons via members ...