We have tested the ability of neurotrophins to reverse axotomy-induced changes in adult motor and sensory neurons, using the physiological measure of conduction velocity. Five weeks after axotomy, sensory and motor conduction velocities were greatly reduced. NT-3 at 60 microg/d, pumped directly onto the cut nerve stump, largely prevented the change in sensory fibers. Lower doses were less effec...

Introduction Walking is of high priority for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). It remains unclear whether aerobic exercise can improve walking ability and upregulate neurotrophins. This review aims to consolidate evidence to develop optimal aerobic training parameters to enhance walking outcomes and neuroplasticity in PwMS. Methods Clinical studies examining aerobic exercise for ≥3 weeks...

PURPOSE To determine whether cells and tissue from the human lamina cribrosa (LC) express neurotrophin and tyrosine kinase (trk) receptor mRNA and protein and whether these cells secrete neurotrophins. METHODS Synthesis of cDNA and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were conducted using total RNA obtained from well-characterized cell lines from the human LC and human...

Due to the increasing cases of neurodegenerative diseases in recent years, the eventual goal of nerve repair is very important. One approach for achieving a neuronal cell induction is by regenerative pharmacology. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are neurotrophins that play roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and protection. On the other hand, d...

Inhibitors of regeneration in myelin, such as myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG), play an important role in preventing regeneration after CNS injury. Elevation of cAMP, either with dibutyryl-cAMP (db-cAMP) or by priming with a variety of neurotrophins, overcomes inhibition by MAG and myelin. However, activation of cAMP is not generally regarded as a signaling pathway for neurotrophins. Here w...

The development of cerebellar cortex is strongly impaired by thyroid hormone (T3) deficiency, leading to altered migration, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and survival of neurons. To determine whether alteration in the expression of neurotrophins and/or their receptors may contribute to these impairments, we first analyzed their expression using a sensitive RNAse protection assay and in situ ...

The series of international conferences on nerve growth factor (NGF) and related molecules arose from a meeting held in 1986, to mark Rita Levi-Montalcini’s 77th birthday, and in recognition of the fact that her discovery of NGF opened up the field of trophic factors. One of the best characterized families of such trophic factors is the NGF family of neurotrophins, which in mammals also include...

Inhibitory synapses on Purkinje cell somata in organotypic cerebellar cultures derived from newborn mice were increased after chronic exposure post explantation to agents that enhance neuronal activity. Inhibitory synaptogenesis was reduced in similar cultures after continuous blockade of spontaneous neuronal discharges. By contrast, excitatory synapses developed fully in the absence of neurona...

Neurotrophins [e.g., brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin 4 (NT4)], known to affect neuronal structure and function, are expressed in nonneuronal tissues including the airway. However, their function is unclear. We examined the effect of acute vs. prolonged neurotrophin exposure on regulation of airway smooth muscle (ASM) intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)): sarco...