HSV-1 VECTOR-MEDIATED TRANSFER OF BDNF INTO CEREBELLAR GRANULE CELLS

Cerebellar granule cells offer a useful model system to study the effe cts of neurotrophins during development. We have used a defective herp es simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) vector containing brain-derived neurot rophic factor (BDNF) to ex-press this neurotrophin in aggregate cultur es of granule cells. Viral infection led to easily detectable BDNF exp ression and neurite outgrowth of granule cells, expressing the high af finity receptor TrkB. Neurite elongation mediated by the HSV-1 vector producing BDNF was similar to that found after exposure to purified BD NF. This study demonstrates the efficacy of HSV-1 vectors for delivery and expression of neurotrophins in cerebellar granule cells. The biol ogical responses measured indicate the effectiveness of HSV-1 vectors as potential therapeutic tools.