Abstract
Neuronal death in vertebrate development is widely believed to be regulated by retrograde survival signals from the axonal target territory, and these signals are assumed to be initiated by the binding of trophic molecules to the axon terminal. However, direct evidence for the retrograde transmission of such survival signals along developing axons is only available in the peripheral nervous system. We show here in a central projection, the isthmo-optic projection of chick embryos, that a neurotrophin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, can indeed initiate retrograde survival signals from the target territory. A related molecule, neurotrophin-3, is ineffective.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / pharmacology
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Cell Survival / physiology
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Central Nervous System / cytology
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Central Nervous System / growth & development*
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Central Nervous System / physiology
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Chick Embryo
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Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / pharmacology
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Kainic Acid / pharmacology
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Nerve Growth Factors / pharmacology
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Nerve Growth Factors / physiology*
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Neurons / physiology*
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Neurotrophin 3
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / drug effects
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Visual Pathways / cytology
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Visual Pathways / growth & development
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Visual Pathways / physiology
Substances
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Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Neurotrophin 3
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Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor
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Kainic Acid