QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (48) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by LeMaster, A. M. Articles by Albers, K. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by LeMaster, A. M. Articles by Albers, K. M.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

The Journal of Neuroscience, July 15, 1999, 19(14):5919-5931

Overexpression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Enhances Sensory Innervation and Selectively Increases Neuron Number

Ann M. LeMaster¹, Robin F. Krimm², Brian M. Davis¹, Teresa Noel², Mary E. Forbes³, James E. Johnson³, and Kathryn M. Albers^{1, 2}

Departments of ¹ Anatomy and Neurobiology and ² Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40536, and ³  Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina 27157

Target-derived neurotrophin growth factors have significant effects on the development and maintenance of the mammalian somatosensory system. Studies of transgenic mice that overexpress neurotrophins NGF and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) at high levels in skin have shown increased sensory neuron number and enhanced innervation of specific sensory ending types. The effects of two other members of this family, BDNF and NT-4, on sensory neuron development are less clear. This study examined the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) using transgenic mice that overexpress BDNF in epithelial target tissues of sensory neurons. BDNF transgenic mice had an increase in peripheral innervation density and showed selective effects on neuron survival. Neuron number in trigeminal ganglia, DRG, and SCG were unchanged, although a 38% increase in neurons comprising the placode-derived nodose-petrosal complex occurred. BDNF transgenic skin showed notable enhancement of innervation to hair follicles as detected by PGP9.5 immunolabeling. In nonhairy plantar skin, Meissner corpuscle sensory endings were larger, and the number of Merkel cells with associated innervation was increased. In trigeminal ganglia, neurons expressing trkB receptor were increased threefold, whereas trkA-positive neurons doubled. Analysis of trkB by Northern, reverse transcription-PCR, and Western assays indicated a modest increase in the expression of the T1 truncated receptor and preferential distribution to the periphery. These data indicate that skin-derived BDNF does not enhance survival of cutaneous sensory neurons, although it does promote neurite innervation of specific sites and sensory end organs of the skin.

Key words: BDNF; transgenic; sensory; neurotrophin; Meissner; trkB

---

Copyright © 1999 Society for Neuroscience  0270-6474/99/19145919-13$05.00/0

This article has been cited by other articles:

				F. N. Zaidi, R. F. Krimm, and M. C. Whitehead Exuberant Neuronal Convergence onto Reduced Taste Bud Targets with Preservation of Neural Specificity in Mice Overexpressing Neurotrophin in the Tongue Epithelium J. Neurosci., December 12, 2007; 27(50): 13875 - 13881. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Albers and B. M. Davis The Skin as a Neurotrophic Organ Neuroscientist, August 1, 2007; 13(4): 371 - 382. [Abstract] [PDF]

				D. M. de Groot, A. J. M. Coenen, A. Verhofstad, F. van Herp, and G. J. M. Martens In Vivo Induction of Glial Cell Proliferation and Axonal Outgrowth and Myelination by Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Mol. Endocrinol., November 1, 2006; 20(11): 2987 - 2998. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				U. Guha, W. A. Gomes, J. Samanta, M. Gupta, F. L. Rice, and J. A. Kessler Target-derived BMP signaling limits sensory neuron number and the extent of peripheral innervation in vivo Development, March 1, 2004; 131(5): 1175 - 1186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Ho, A. Eggert, T. Hishiki, J. E. Minturn, N. Ikegaki, P. Foster, A. M. Camoratto, A. E. Evans, and G. M. Brodeur Resistance to Chemotherapy Mediated by TrkB in Neuroblastomas Cancer Res., November 15, 2002; 62(22): 6462 - 6466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Cronk, G. A. Wilkinson, R. Grimes, E. F. Wheeler, S. Jhaveri, B. T. Fundin, I. Silos-Santiago, L. Tessarollo, L. F. Reichardt, and F. L. Rice Diverse dependencies of developing Merkel innervation on the trkA and both full-length and truncated isoforms of trkC Development, August 1, 2002; 129(15): 3739 - 3750. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Zwick, B. M. Davis, C. J. Woodbury, J. N. Burkett, H. R. Koerber, J. F. Simpson, and K. M. Albers Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor is a Survival Factor for Isolectin B4-Positive, but not Vanilloid Receptor 1-Positive, Neurons in the Mouse J. Neurosci., May 15, 2002; 22(10): 4057 - 4065. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help