Abstract
The glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family of growth factors may be involved in the regenerative support of neurons in the peripheral nervous system. In order to study the role of these growth factors and their receptors following rat peripheral nerve injury we examined the changes in their mRNA levels in the spinal cord, the dorsal root ganglia and the peripheral nerve trunk. Following transaction of the sciatic nerve GDNF mRNA was up-regulated rapidly in the denervated nerve distal to the cut along with the mRNA for one of its receptors, GFRalpha-1. GFRalpha-1 mRNA was also increased in the DRG ipsilateral to the nerve injury suggesting that GDNF may be involved in the trophic support of DRG sensory neurons. In contrast there were no analogous changes in the mRNA levels of neurturin, persephin and artemin following injury.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Denervation
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Drosophila Proteins*
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Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors
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Male
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Nerve Growth Factors*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
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RNA, Messenger / metabolism
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Rats
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Rats, Sprague-Dawley
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / genetics
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Sciatic Nerve / injuries*
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Sciatic Nerve / metabolism
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Spinal Cord / metabolism
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Up-Regulation
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Wounds and Injuries / metabolism*
Substances
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Drosophila Proteins
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Gdnf protein, rat
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Gfra1 protein, rat
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
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Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Receptors
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Nerve Growth Factors
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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RNA, Messenger
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
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Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
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Ret protein, Drosophila