Krieglstein K, Deimling F, Suter-Crazzolara C, Unsicker K
Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Abt. Neuroanatomie, Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Cell Tissue Res. 1996 Nov;286(2):263-8. doi: 10.1007/s004410050696.
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a widely distributed member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily and a potent neurotrophic molecule for several neuron populations in the peripheral and central nervous system. We show here that adrenal medullary chromaffin cells synthesize GDNF mRNA and contain immunoreactive GDNF protein. GDNF immunoreactivity can be found as early as embryonic day 16 in chromaffin progenitor cells of the rat adrenal gland and becomes more prominent with age. Most of the chromaffin cells within the adult rat adrenal medulla are GDNF immunoreactive, including both the noradrenergic and adrenergic subpopulations. The functions of adrenal medullary GDNF are still enigmatic but may include both auto/paracrine roles and retrograde trophic support of preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord or of sensory neurons that innervate chromaffin cells.
胶质细胞源性神经营养因子（GDNF）是转化生长因子-β超家族中广泛分布的成员，是外周和中枢神经系统中几种神经元群体的强效神经营养分子。我们在此表明，肾上腺髓质嗜铬细胞合成GDNF mRNA并含有免疫反应性GDNF蛋白。早在胚胎第16天，在大鼠肾上腺的嗜铬祖细胞中就可发现GDNF免疫反应性，并且随着年龄增长而更加显著。成年大鼠肾上腺髓质内的大多数嗜铬细胞都具有GDNF免疫反应性，包括去甲肾上腺素能和肾上腺素能亚群。肾上腺髓质GDNF的功能仍然不明，但可能包括自分泌/旁分泌作用以及对脊髓节前神经元或支配嗜铬细胞的感觉神经元的逆行营养支持。
