Neurotrophin‐4/5 (NT‐4/5) increases adult rat retinal ganglion cell survival and neurite outgrowth in vitro

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and neurite outgrowth were investigated in retinal explants from adult rats. Neutrotrophin‐4/5 (NT‐4/5) caused dose‐dependent increases in neurite outgrowth with one‐half maximal effects at approximately 0.5 ng/ml and maximal effects at 5 ng/ml. In explants treated for 7 days, the actions of NT‐4/5 were similar to those of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); with either neurotrophin, nearly twice as many RGCs survived and there was a two‐ to threefold increase in the number of neurites formed by RGCs. Combinations of saturating concentrations of NT‐4/5 and BDNF did not enhance these in vitro effects, implying that both neurotrophins share a common signaling pathway. In contrast, nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin‐3 (NT‐3), or ciliary nuerotrophic factor (CNTF) appeared to exert minimal influences on RGC survival or neurite outgrowth. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.