Abstract
NEUROTROPHIC factors support the differentiation and survival of neurons1,2 and influence properties of synaptic transmission3,4. The neurotrophic hypothesis postulates a retrograde action of trophic factors: their production and release by target cells and their uptake by innervating axons5. Besides the retrograde route of trophic messengers, the survival of neurons and the development of synapses is thought to be also regulated by anterograde, afferent trophic signals6–10. We now show that exogenous neurotrophins are transported in the anterograde direction, from cell bodies to the axon terminals, and that the intact neurotrophin is released after anterograde transport, taken up and utilized by second-order visual neurons in the developing chick brain. These results suggest that anterogradely transported neurotrophins may play a role in synaptic plasticity and may have effects at more than one synapse beyond the initial release site.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Prices vary by article type
from$1.95
to$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barde, Y. A. Neuron 2, 1525–1534 (1989).
Thoenen, H. Trends Neurosci. 14, 165–170 (1991).
Lohof, A. M., Ip, N. Y. & Poo, M. M. Nature 363, 350–353 (1993).
Kang, H. & Schuman, E. M. Science 267, 1658–1662 (1995).
Purves, D. Body and Brain. A Trophic Theory of Neural Connections (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1988).
Cowan, W. N. in Contemporary Research Methods in Neuroanatomy (eds Nauta, W. J. H. & Ebbesson, S. O. E.) 217–251 (Springer, New York, 1970).
Changeaux, J. P. & Danchin, A. Nature 264, 705–712 (1976).
Vaughn, J. E. Synapse 3, 255–285 (1989).
Clarke, P. G. H. Concepts Neurosci. 2, 201–219 (1991).
Oppenheim, R. W. A. Rev. Neurosci. 14, 453–501 (1991).
Catsicas, M., Pequignot, Y. & Clarke, P. G. H. J. Neurosci. 12, 4642–4650 (1992).
Korsching, S. J. Neurosci. 13, 2739–2748 (1993).
Ferguson, I. A., Schweitzer, J. B. & Johnson, E. M. Jr J. Neurosci. 10, 2176–2189 (1990).
Nieto-Bona, M. P., Garcia-Segura, L. M. & Torre-Aleman, I. J. Neurosci. Res. 36, 520–527 (1993).
Claude, P., Hawrot, E., Dunis, D. A. & Campenot, R. B. J. Neurosci. 2, 431–442 (1982).
Wayne, D. B. & Heaton, M. B. Devl Biol. 138, 484–498 (1990).
Ernfors, P., Wetmore, C., Olson, L. & Persson, H. Neuron 5, 511–526 (1990).
Schecterson, L. C. & Bothwell, M. Neuron 9, 449–463 (1992).
Herzog, K. H., Bailey, K. & Barde, Y. A. Development 120, 1643–1649 (1994).
Meakin, S. & Shooter, E. M. Trends Neurosci. 15, 323–331 (1992).
Bothweil, M. A. Rev. Neurosci. 18, 223–253 (1995).
von Bartheld, C. S., Heuer, J. G. & Bothwell, M. J. comp. Neurol. 310, 103–129 (1991).
von Bartheld, C. S. et al. Neuron 12, 639–654 (1994).
Smith, R. S., Hammerschlag, R., Snyder, R. E., Chan, H. & Bobinsky, J. J. Neurochem. 62, 1698–1706 (1994).
Hammerschlag, R. & Stone, G. C. Trends Neurosci. 5, 12–15 (1982).
Felder, S. et al. Cell 61, 623–634 (1990).
Konrad, R. J. et al. J. biol. Chem. 270, 12869–12876 (1995).
Williams, R., Bäckström, A., Kullander, K., Hallböök, F. & Ebendal, T. Eur. J. Neurosci. 7, 116–128 (1995).
Richardson, P. M., Verge, V. M. K. & Riopelle, R. J. J. Neurosci. 6, 2312–2321 (1986).
Byers, M. R. Brain Res. 75, 97–113 (1974).
Zhou, X. F. & Rush, R. A. Neuroscience (in the press).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
von Bartheld, C., Byers, M., Williams, R. et al. Anterograde transport of neurotrophins and axodendritic transfer in the developing visual system. Nature 379, 830–833 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/379830a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/379830a0
This article is cited by
-
The absence of retinal input disrupts the development of cholinergic brainstem projections in the mouse dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
Neural Development (2018)
-
Neurotrophic factor control of satiety and body weight
Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2016)
-
Neurotrophin regulation of neural circuit development and function
Nature Reviews Neuroscience (2013)
-
Role of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor at glutamatergic synapses
British Journal of Pharmacology (2008)
-
Hippocampal neurons recycle BDNF for activity-dependent secretion and LTP maintenance
The EMBO Journal (2006)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.