Cohen-Cory S, Fraser S E
Division of Biology, Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena 91125.
Neuron. 1994 Apr;12(4):747-61. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(94)90328-x.
To explore the role of BDNF during Xenopus visual system development, the expression of BDNF and TrkB, as well as the effect of BDNF during retinal ganglion cell (RGC) development in culture, was examined. BDNF mRNA was found to be expressed in both the developing eye and tectum, peaking at stage 45/46. The expression of BDNF coincided with RGC expression of full-length trkB transcripts, suggesting a functional role for BDNF. In culture, BDNF significantly increased the number of RGCs. The ability of BDNF to rescue differentiated RGCs that had projected to the tectum, the time course of the effect, and the lack of mitogenic response indicate that this neurotrophin promotes survival. The expression of BDNF and TrkB and the responsiveness of RGCs to BDNF coincide with retinal axon terminal arborization and patterning. Our results indicate that BDNF is a relevant neurotrophin for Xenopus RGC development and suggest that it plays a role during visual system patterning.
为了探究脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在非洲爪蟾视觉系统发育过程中的作用，研究人员检测了BDNF和酪氨酸激酶受体B（TrkB）的表达，以及BDNF在体外培养的视网膜神经节细胞（RGC）发育过程中的作用。研究发现，BDNF mRNA在发育中的眼睛和顶盖中均有表达，在第45/46阶段达到峰值。BDNF的表达与全长trkB转录本的RGC表达一致，提示BDNF具有功能作用。在体外培养中，BDNF显著增加了RGC的数量。BDNF挽救已投射到顶盖的分化RGC的能力、作用的时间进程以及缺乏促有丝分裂反应表明，这种神经营养因子可促进细胞存活。BDNF和TrkB的表达以及RGC对BDNF的反应性与视网膜轴突终末分支和模式形成相一致。我们的结果表明，BDNF是非洲爪蟾RGC发育相关的神经营养因子，并提示它在视觉系统模式形成过程中发挥作用。
