Glial Cell Line‐Derived Neurotrophic Growth Factor Inhibits Apoptotic Death of Postnatal Substantia Nigra Dopamine Neurons in Primary Culture

: Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was identified on the basis of its ability to enhance the development of embryonic mesencephalic dopamine neurons. It remains unknown whether GDNF is a physiologically relevant trophic factor for these neurons. We have shown that natural cell deat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurochemistry 1998-08, Vol.71 (2), p.517-525
Main Authors: Burke, Robert E., Antonelli, Megan, Sulzer, David
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apoptosis
Apoptosis - drug effects
Biochemistry and metabolism
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Size - drug effects
Cell Survival - drug effects
Cells, Cultured
Central nervous system
Cerebral Cortex - cytology
Dopamine
Dopamine - physiology
Female
Fetus - cytology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Nerve Growth Factors
Nerve Tissue Proteins - pharmacology
Neurons - cytology
Neurons - drug effects
Neurons - enzymology
Neuroprotective Agents - pharmacology
Parkinson's disease
Pregnancy
Rats
Recombinant Proteins - pharmacology
Substantia nigra
Substantia Nigra - cytology
Trophic factors
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase - metabolism
Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
Citations: Items that cite this one
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Summary:: Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) was identified on the basis of its ability to enhance the development of embryonic mesencephalic dopamine neurons. It remains unknown whether GDNF is a physiologically relevant trophic factor for these neurons. We have shown that natural cell death among dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra occurs largely postnatally. To investigate whether GDNF may have the ability to support these neurons during their period of natural cell death, we have used a postnatal primary culture model. We find that GDNF is able to support the viability of postnatal nigral dopamine neurons by inhibiting apoptotic death. This ability of GDNF shows both regional specificity for the nigra and cellular specificity for the dopamine phenotype. Among eight other neurotrophic factors previously reported to support embryonic dopamine neurons, GDNF was unique in this ability. Thus, GDNF meets this criterion for a physiologically relevant trophic factor for dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra.
ISSN:0022-3042
1471-4159
DOI:10.1046/j.1471-4159.1998.71020517.x