We have examined the effects of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) on the development of rat Purkinje cells in vitro. Cerebellar cells, derived from embryonic day 16 rat fetuses, were found to respond rapidly to CNTF treatment by induction of c-Fos protein, such that 40% of the cells were immunopositive after 60 min. Treatment with low doses of CNTF (10-100 pg/ml) for 8 days resulted in an approximately 1.6-fold increase in the number of Purkinje cells, identified by immunohistochemical staining for calbindin. Immunohistochemical staining for other Purkinje cell markers--cyclic-GMP-dependent protein kinase and the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor--verified increased Purkinje cell survival following CNTF treatment. In addition, CNTF increased specific high-affinity GABA uptake by 45%, and the number of GABAergic neurons by 70%. A maximal increase in the number of Purkinje cells and GABA-uptake was only achieved if CNTF was added within 48 h of plating the cells, further suggesting that CNTF enhances Purkinje cell survival in vitro. These results taken together strongly support a direct effect of CNTF in promoting the survival of Purkinje cells and possibly other GABAergic cerebellar neurons.