Axotomy increases CNTF receptor mRNA in rat spinal cord.

In order to study the role of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and its receptor (CNTF-R) in the response of spinal cord neurons to axotomy, we measured the levels of CNTF mRNA in nerve and CNTF-R mRNA in spinal cord following transection of sciatic nerve, using reverse transcriptase PCR. We found CNTF mRNA levels in the nerve fell and that CNTF-R mRNA levels in spinal cord increased at both 1 and 7 days following transection.